Li2TiSiO5 and expanded graphite nanocomposite anode material with improved rate performance for lithium-ion batteries

Li2TiSiO5 presents an operational potential at 0.28 V vs. Li+/Li, which could fill the voltage gap between graphite and Li4Ti5O12, showing great potential as an alternative anode material for Li-ion batteries. Apart from its advantages such as proper operational potential, excellent reversibility, low cost, environment friendly and so on, Li2TiSiO5 also suffers from two shortages of relatively low rate performance and capacity-voltage curve changing during cycling. In this work, we introduced expanded graphite as supporting medium, and successfully synthesized Li2TiSiO5 nanoparticles loaded expanded graphite composites (LTSO-EG). By dramatically reducing particle size and improving electronic conducting material, the rate performance of LTSO-EG is greatly improved compared with the amorphous carbon coated Li2TiSiO5. And most importantly, LTSO-EG displays a slope and stable capacity-voltage curve during cycling with reduced polarization. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.