Abstract:
The pure Cr
2O
3 coated Li
4Ti
5O
12 microspheres were prepared by a facile and cheap solutionbased method with basic chromium(III) nitrate solution (pH=11.9). And their Li-storage properties were investigated as anode materials for lithium rechargeable batteries. The pure Cr
2O
3 works as an adhesive interface to strengthen the connections between Li
4Ti
5O
12 particles, providing more electric conduction channels, and reduce the inter-particle resistance. Moreover, LixCr
2O
3, formed by the lithiation of Cr
2O
3, can further stabilize Li
7Ti
5O
12 with high electric conductivity on the surface of particles. While in the acid chromium solution (pH=3.2) modification, besides Cr
2O
3, Li
2CrO
4 and TiO
2 phases were also found in the final product. Li
2CrO
4 is toxic and the presence of TiO
2 is not welcome to improve the electrochemical performance of Li
4Ti
5O
12 microspheres. The reversible capacity of 1% Cr
2O
3-coated sample with the basic chromium solution modification was 180 mAh/g at 0.1 C, and 134 mAh/g at 10 C. Moreover, it was even as high as 127 mAh/g at 5 C after 600 cycles. At-20℃, its reversible specific capacity was still as high as 118 mAh/g.