Journal of Power Sources, Vol.296, 109-116, 2015
Electron beam modification of anode materials for high-rate lithium ion batteries
The rate capability of a Li4Ti5O12 (LTO)-based anode in a lithium ion battery can be easily improved by electron beam (EB) irradiation without the need for complicated synthetic procedures. The electrode prepared with EB-irradiated LTO at a 50 kGy dose has an enhanced rate capability while retaining a discharge capacity of 100 mAh g(-1), even at the 20 C-rate. The effect of EB irradiation on the properties of the anode materials (i.e., LTO, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), super P carbon) is examined in detail through systematic experiments. Both LTO and PVDF are affected by EB irradiation and dependent on the exposed electron dose, but super P is affected negligibly. EB irradiation partially reduces LTO with forming Tix+ (2