Single-Step Synthesis of Nanosized Titanium-Based Oxide/Carbon Nanotube Composites by Electrospray Deposition and Their Electrochemical Properties

Nanosized particles of titanium-based oxide supported on carbon nanotubes were prepared by a single-step process according to an electrospray pyrolysis method. Very fine Li4/3Ti5/3O4 particles were supported directly on carbon nanotubes, and their particle size was ca. 10 nm. Cyclic voltammetry gave sharp and symmetrical redox peaks at around 1.56 V vs Li/Li+ due to the insertion and extraction of Li-ion at nanosized Li4/3Ti5/3O4. The peak separation in potential was very small, which suggests that the apparent rapid diffusion of Li-ion could be attained by using nanosized Li4/3Ti5/3O4 particles supported on a three-dimensional network of carbon nanotubes. These results indicate that the support of electroactive materials on electron-conductive carbon nanotubes, in addition to the use of nanosized electroactive particles containing short diffusion paths for Li-ion, could be achieved by the present method and should improve the rate performance of Li-ion batteries.