Lithium storage in amorphous TiO₂ nanoparticles

Abstract

Amorphous titanium oxide nanoparticles were prepared from titanium isopropoxide. In situ measurements reveal an extraordinary high capacity of 810 mAh/g on the first discharge. Upon cycling at a charge/discharge rate of 33.5 mA/g, this capacity gradually decreases to 200 mAh/g after 50 cycles. The origin of this fading was investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. These measurements reveal that a large fraction of the total amount of the consumed Li atoms is due to the reaction of H₂ O/OH species adsorbed at the surface to Li₂ O, explaining the irreversible capacity loss. The reversible capacity of the bulk, leading to the Li_0.5 TiO₂ composition, does not explain the relatively large reversible capacity, implying that part of Li₂ O at the TiO₂ surface may be reversible. The high reversible capacity, also at large (dis)charge rates up to 3.35 A/g (10C), makes this amorphous titanium oxide material suitable as a low cost electrode material in a high power battery.