Effects of carbon sources on electrochemical performance of Li4Ti5O12/C composite anode materials

Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composite materials were synthesized by two-step solid state reaction method with glucose, sucrose, and starch as carbon sources, respectively. The effects of carbon sources on the structure, morphology, and electrochemical performance of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composite materials were investigated by SEM, XRD and electrochemical tests. The results indicate that carbon sources have almost no effect on the structure of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composite materials. The initial discharge capacities of the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composite materials are slightly lower than those of as-synthesized Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. However, Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composite materials show better electrochemical rate performance than the as-synthesized Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. The capacity retention (79%) of the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composite materials with starch as carbon source, is higher than that of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composite materials with glucose and sucrose as carbon source at current rate of 2.0C.