Enhanced electrochemical properties of Li2ZnTi3O8/C nanocomposite synthesized with phenolic resin as carbon source

Li 2 ZnTi 3 O 8 /C nanocomposite has been synthesized using phenolic resin as carbon source in this work. The structure, morphology, and electrochemical properties of the as-prepared Li 2 ZnTi 3 O 8 samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Raman spectroscopy (RS), galvanostatic charge–discharge, and AC impedance spectroscopy. SEM images show that Li 2 ZnTi 3 O 8 /C was agglomerated with a primary particle size of ca. 40 nm. TEM images reveal that a homogeneous carbon layer (ca. 5 nm) formed on the surface of Li 2 ZnTi 3 O 8 particles which is favorable to improve the electronic conductivity and inhibit the growth of Li 2 ZnTi 3 O 8 during annealing process. The as-prepared Li 2 ZnTi 3 O 8 /C composite with 6.0 wt.% carbon exhibited a high initial discharge capacity of 425 and 159 mAh g −1 at 0.05 and 5 A g −1 , respectively. At a high current density of 1 A g −1 , 95.5 % of its initial value is obtained after 100 cycles.