Preparation and electrochemical performance of monodisperse Li4Ti5O12 hollow spheres

Monodisperse Li4Ti5O12 hollow spheres were prepared by using carbon spheres as templates. Scanning electron microscopy images show hollow spheres that have an average outer diameter of 1.0 μm and an average wall thickness of 60 nm. Compared with Li4Ti5O12 solids, the hollow spherical Li4Ti5O12 exhibit an excellent rate capability and capacity retention and can be charged/discharged at 10 C (1.7 A g−1) with a specific capacity of 100 mA h g−1, and after 200 charge and discharge cycles at 2 C, their specific capacity remain very stable at 150 mA h g−1. It is believed that the hollow structure has a relatively large contact surface between Li4Ti5O12 and liquid electrolyte, resulting in a better electrochemical performance at high charge/discharge rate.