Nanocomposite Li2ZnTi3O8/C with enhanced electrochemical performances for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract Nanocomposite of Li 2 ZnTi 3 O 8 /carbon nanobelt was successfully synthesized through a simple synthetic route using titanate nanobelts as a precursor, in which a thin carbon layer of ca. 2–3 nm was formed on the surface of Li 2 ZnTi 3 O 8 nanobelts. This material was used as an anode material for Li-ion storage and demonstrates a large reversible charge-discharge capacity of 247.6 mA h g − 1 after 200 cycles at 0.2 A g − 1 , which is much greater than that of pure Li 2 ZnTi 3 O 8 nanowires. At the same time, this material also exhibits excellent rate capability with a capacity of ca. 178.0 mA h g − 1 even at a current density as high as 2 A g − 1 . These excellent properties might be attributed to its high electronic conductivity due to a thin carbon layer on the surface of nanobelts and one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure can facilitate the electron transport along the long dimension, meanwhile, Li + can be transport fast along the two short dimensions.