Synthesis of nanocrystalline Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) by chemical lithiation of anatase nanocrystals and postannealing

Here, we report a chemical process for the preparation of nanosized Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) anode material for Li-ion batteries. Anatase TiO(2) nanopowders were first lithiated in LiOH solution at low temperature and then formed an intermediate Li-Ti-O precursor by oriented attachment, which was subsequently converted to Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) by a short postannealing. The obtained Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) powders were 30 nm in size on average and showed a high phase purity and crystallinity. The electrochemical tests indicated that the synthesized nanosized Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) exhibited a good lithium storage capacity and high cycle stability as well, even at high charge/discharge current rates. (C) 2008 The Electrochemical Society.