Characterization of two phase distribution in electrochemically-lithiated spinel Li4Ti5O12 secondary particles by electron energy-loss spectroscopy

Spinel lithium titanate, Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) is attracting much attention as an alternative material replacing carbon based anodes in lithium ion batteries, due to its high rate properties as well as its durability and safety. The coexistence of the two phases, spinel Li4Ti5O12 and rock salt Li7Ti5O12, during the charge–discharge reactions is the key issue for the understanding of reaction mechanism and the development of LTO electrodes with improved performance.