Synthesis and properties of Li4Ti5O12/C composite by a microwave-assisted method using PAM as both the template and the carbon source

Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 /C composite was successfully synthesized by a microwave-assisted method using polyacrylamide (PAM) as both the template and the carbon source. The structure and morphology of the products were characterized by means of x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that the Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 /C powder synthesized by a microwave-assisted method has good crystallinity and has sub-micrometer average particle size. Electrochemical tests showed that Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 /C composite synthesized by the microwave-assisted method with PAM exhibits a specific capacity of 167.8 and 135.5 mAh g −1 at the 0.2 and 5 C rates. Compared with Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 prepared by the microwave-assisted method using PAM as the template in air, Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 prepared in N 2 has a better electrochemical performance; this is due to pyrolytic carbon increasing the electronic conductivity of the material. During the process of synthesis, the particle morphology of the Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 /C composite gets adjusted and controlled by the thermal impetus of PAM template decomposition.