title: Li4Ti5O12/graphene nanoribbons composite as anodes for lithium ion batteries.
abstract: In this paper, we report the synthesis of a Li4Ti5O12/Graphene Nanoribbons (LTO/GNRs) composite using a solid-coating method. Electron microscope images of the LTO/GNRs composite have shown that LTO particles were wrapped around graphene nanoribbons. The introduction of GNRs was observed to have significantly improved the rate performance of LTO/GNTs. The specific capacities determined of the obtained composite at rates of 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 C are 206.5, 200.9, 188, 178.1 and 142.3 mAh·g(-1), respectively. This is significantly higher than those of pure LTO (169.1, 160, 150, 106 and 71.1 mAh·g(-1), respectively) especially at high rate (2 and 5 C). The LTO/GNRs also shows better cycling stability at high rates. Enhanced conductivity of LTO/GNRs contributed from the GNR frameworks accelerated the kinetics of lithium intercalation/deintercalation in LIBs that also leads to excellent rate capacity of LTO/GNRs. This is attributed to its lower charge-transfer resistance (Rct = 23.38 Ω) compared with LTO (108.05 Ω), and higher exchange current density (j = 1.1 × 10(-3) mA cm(-2))-about 20 times than those of the LTO (j = 2.38 × 10(-4) mA cm(-2)).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Science of Advanced Materials Program, Central Michigan University, Mount pleasant, Michigan, 48858 USA.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), PO BOX 395, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Science of Advanced Materials Program, Central Michigan University, Mount pleasant, Michigan, 48858 USA.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Fahlman
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), PO BOX 395, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Annamalai
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), PO BOX 395, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swartbooi
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), PO BOX 395, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: le Roux
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), PO BOX 395, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mathe
keywords: Anode; Capacity; Graphene nanoribbons; LIBs, Li4Ti5O12