Enhancing lithium titanite (Li4Ti5O12) nanorods performance with graphite and nano tin as anode for lithium-ion batteries

Lithium titanate, Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) is a promising candidate as lithium ion battery anode material. LTO in nanorod structure could be even more promising as its properties are better than regular structure. In this investigation, LTO nanorod was prepared by using TiO2 powder then processed by hydrothermal method, with the help of lithium hydroxide (LiOH), resulting in LTO. Graphite and Nano Tin are mixed together with LTO using solid-state method. Three variations of Nano Tin content addition in weight%, i.e., 5, 10 and 15%, labelled as sample LTO/C-5%Nano Sn, LTO/C-10%Nano Sn and LTO/C-15%Nano Sn, respectively. The characterizations were made using XRD and SEM testing. These were performed to observe the effect of Nano Tin addition on structure and morphology of the resulting samples. The result showed that the addition of Nano-Tin of 10% (LTO/C-10%Nano Sn) has the highest specific capacity with 87.07 mAh g-1. According to Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, LTO/C-10%Nano Sn also has the best conductivity with the lowest resistivity.