Li4 Ti5 O12 is a promising anode for lithium-ion batteries due to its zero-strain properties. However, its low conductivity has greatly affected its rate performance. At the same time, the electrolyte decomposition during cycling also needs to be solved, especially at low cut-off voltage. Herein, using a high-throughput two-step method, we synthesized Zr-doped LTO modified by mesoporous LiBaF3 nanoparticles for alkali-ion storage. The doping of Zr can enhance the electronic conductivity and facilitate the rate performance. Meanwhile, the coating of mesoporous LiBaF3 nanoparticles can form a mesoporous surface with large pore size (ca. 3-10 nm), which can benefit the alkali ion diffusion and simultaneously restrain the formation of an excess solid electrolyte interface to a reasonable range. The optimized material is used as an advanced anode for both lithium-ion and potassium-ion batteries, and good battery behavior including high-rate performance and high stability is achieved.
Keywords: Zr doping; alkali ion batteries; anode materials; electron transfer; lithium titanium oxide; mesoporous LiBaF3 coating.
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