Electrochemical and diffusional insights of combustion synthesized SrLi2Ti6O14 negative insertion material for Li-ion Batteries

Abstract Solvothermal synthetic routes can provide energy-savvy platforms to fabricate battery anode materials involving relatively milder annealing steps vis-a-vis the conventional solid-state synthesis. These energy efficient routes in turn restrict aggressive grain growth to form nanoscale particles favouring efficient Li + diffusion. Here, we report an economic solution combustion synthesis of SrLi 2 Ti 6 O 14 anode involving nitrate-urea complexation with a short annealing duration of only 2 h (900 °C). Rietveld refinement confirms the phase purity of target product assuming an orthorhombic framework ( Cmca symmetry). It delivers reversible capacity of ∼125 mAh.g −1 at a rate of C/20 involving a 1.38 V Ti 4+ /Ti 3+ redox activity with excellent rate kinetics and cycling stability. Bond valence site energy (BVSE) calculations gauge SrLi 2 Ti 6 O 14 to be an anisotropic 3D Li + ion conductor with the highest ionic conductivity along the c direction. The electrochemical and diffusional pathways have been elucidated for combustion prepared SrLi 2 Ti 6 O 14 as an efficient and safe negative electrode candidate for Li-ion batteries.