Improved lithium storage performance of NaTi2(PO4)3/C composite connected by carbon nanotubes

NaTi 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C (NC) composites decorated by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared via a sol-gel way, and employed as anode in aqueous lithium ion batteries . An effective conductive network was obtained by decoration of CNTs, which can interconnect NC particles. CNTs decoration has no obvious effect on lattice structure for NaTi 2 (PO 4 ) 3 , and can enhance electrochemical properties for NC. Moreover, NC decorated by CNTs with optimal content of 8.8% (NC-CNTs-10) exhibits the highest electrochemical properties. NC-CNTs-10 delivers the discharge capacity of 96.4, 93.7, and 74.2 mAh g −1 at 0.5, 3, and 15C, respectively, with increase of 2.7, 15.1, and 38.2 mAh g −1 compared with NC. In addition, NC-CNTs-10 shows excellent cycling performance. Capacity retention for NC-CNTs-10 can reach 91.2% after 1000 cycles at a rate of 4C, 16.7% larger than that of pristine NC. Our study reveals that CNTs decoration is a simple way to raise electrochemical properties for NaTi 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C in aqueous lithium ion batteries .