Microwave-assisted synthesis of carbon (Super-P) supported copper nanoparticles as conductive agent for Li4Ti5O12 anodes for Lithium-ion batteries

Highlights: ► Microwave-assisted polyol synthesis of Cu/Super-P composite. ► The Cu/Super-P is used as conductive agent in LTO-based anodes. ► Cu-modified anodes show improved rate capability up to 30 C. ► The use of the Cu/Super-P enhances the cycling stability. -- Abstract: Super-P supported copper nanoparticles (Cu/Super-P) have been synthesized via one-pot microwave-assisted polyol procedure. The electrochemical performances of Li4Ti5O12 (LTO-Aldrich) electrodes manufactured with Cu/Super-P as conductive agent have been studied by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic cycling, impedance spectroscopy and compared to those of electrodes containing pristine Super-P. The use of the synthesized Cu/Super-P remarkably increases the reversible capacities at every C-rate. The reasons of the improved electrochemical performances can be explained in terms of reduced electrodes polarization and reduced charge-transfer resistance