Chitosan-Confined Synthesis of N-Doped and Carbon-Coated Li₄Ti₅O₁₂Nanoparticles with Enhanced Lithium Storage for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Using chitosan as the carbon and nitrogen source, highly-crystalline lithium titanate nanoparticles with N-doped carbon-coating (N-C/LTO) have been successfully synthesized via a facile refluxing and microwave-assisted hydrothermal processes followed by a subsequent calcination step. Due to the effect of chitosan-confined, the fabricated N-C/LTO composites crystallized into well-defined cubic spinel structure with an average size of ∼50 nm, leading to a significantly enhanced specific surface area. The successful doping of nitrogen into the carbon layer of the N-C/LTO has been confirmed by XPS technology. The porous LTO with nitrogen-doped carbon coating fabricated with chitosan exhibits superior electrochemical performance (a high reversible capacity of 194 mAh g −1 was achieved at 1 C). This work therefore reveals that the N-doped carbon coating realized by chitosan confinement is an effective way for enhancing the surface lithium storage capability of LTO as the anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).