Phase-pure nanocrystalline Li4Ti5O12 for a lithium-ion battery

Phase-pure nanocrystalline Li4Ti5O12 with BET surface areas between 183 and 196 m(2)/g was prepared via an improved synthetic protocol from lithium ethoxide and titanium(IV) butoxide. The phase purity was proved by X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Thin-film electrodes were prepared from two nanocrystalline samples of Li4Ti5O12 and one microcrystalline commercial sample. Li-insertion behavior of these electrodes was related to the particle size.