Mesoporous LiTi2(PO4)3/C composite with trace amount of carbon as high-performance electrode materials for lithium ion batteries

Highlights: • LiTi₂(PO₄)₃/C composite has abundant pores and the carbon content is as low as 0.495 wt%. • LiTi₂(PO₄)₃/C composite has been synthesized without introducing additional carbon source. • LiTi₂(PO₄)₃/C composite shows outstanding electrochemical performance at 10 C. We have synthesized the mesoporous LiTi₂(PO₄)₃/C (LTP/C) composite by a solvothermal approach followed by calcination in Ar using tetrabutyl titanate as titanium source and carbon source simultaneously. The abundant pores coupled with thin and uniform carbon-coating layer improve the lithium ion diffusion and electronic conductivity remarkably. Hence, though the carbon content is as low as 0.495 wt%, LTP/C composite reveals the excellent electrochemical property as electrode materials in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). It shows the discharge capacity of 109.8 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 C and could deliver reversible discharge capacity as high as 84.4 mAh g⁻¹ at 20 C (1 C = 138 mA g⁻¹). Moreover, the initial discharge capacity of LTP/C composite is 98.6 mAh g⁻¹ and the capacity retention reach up to 85% after 2000 cycles at 10 C. Consequently, the LTP/C composite should be a potential and attractive electrode material candidate in LIBs.