One-pot synthesis of soft carbon-combined Li2TiSiO5 composites with oxygen vacancies as long life and high rate anodes for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract Li2TiSiO5 has been proposed as a practical anode material for lithium-ion batteries with an ideal operational potential of 0.28 V vs. Li/Li+ which can fill the voltage region between graphite and Li4Ti5O12. Herein, soft carbon-combined Li2TiSiO5 composite with extra oxygen vacancies is successfully prepared through a one-pot process. When employed as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the novel Li2TiSiO5/C composite delivers a high initial discharge capacity of 443 mA h g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1, and presents a reversible capacity of 165 mA h g−1 even at 1600 mA g−1. The long-life cycling is achieved with a capacity retention of 273 mA h g−1 after 1500 cycles under 500 mA g−1 between 0.1 V and 3.0 V. The enhanced cycling stability and prominent rate capability are largely ascribed to the improved conductivities, faster electrochemical reaction kinetics and strong pseudocapacitance effect. This superior lithium-storage performance provides a new opportunity for the further practical applications of novel titanium-based carbon composites as electrode materials in high-power storage devices.