Advanced electrochemical investigations of niobium modified Li2ZnTi3O8 lithium ion battery anode materials

Li2ZnTi3-xNbxO8 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) (LZTNO) materials are synthesized through ball milling assisted solid state synthesis and its structural, morphological and electrochemical investigations are carried out. All LZTNO samples exhibit a spinel type structure with space group P4332 and small amounts of anatase TiO2 are also found in doped samples. The structure and mechanism of electrochemical reaction of Li2ZnTi3O8 (LZTO) is not changed or disturbed significantly with the introduction of small amount of Nb+5 dopant. All samples show a uniform size distribution but Li2ZnTi2 · 95Nb0 · 05O8 (LZTNO-05) displays less agglomeration and more uniform size distribution. Also, the LZTNO-05 sample exhibit low charge transfer resistance and higher reversibility. Galvanostatic charge-discharge reveals highest discharge capacities of 223.9, 211, 173.7, 140, 83.7 mA h g−1 of LZTNO-05 at different C-rates 0.1C, 0.2C, 1C, 2C, and 5C, respectively. Pristine LZTO shows smaller discharge capacities of 197, 184, 146, 129.8 and 68.9 mA h g−1 at 0.1C, 0.2C, 1C, 2C and 5C rates, respectively. LZTNO-05 is prepared by a cost-effective route with excellent electrochemical properties making it more attractive as potential anode electrode for commercialization.