Lithium Titanate Information
What is Lithium Titanate
Lithium titanate is a compound of titanium, with the chemical formula Li4Ti5O12 (new type) or Li2TiO3 (also known as lithium metatitanate). It appears as a white powder, has a high melting point, and is insoluble in water but soluble in concentrated sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid. It has strong fluxing properties and high stability.
History of Lithium Titanate
The research and development of lithium titanate have been ongoing for many years. Over time, its properties and applications have been gradually explored and developed. In the field of battery materials, its application has gained increasing attention in recent decades as the demand for high-performance battery materials has grown.
Purpose of Lithium Titanate
- In Battery Materials: It is widely used as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Its unique structure and properties give it excellent performance in batteries, such as long cycle life, high safety, and the ability to fast charge and discharge. For example, it is used in electric vehicles, electric tools, solar cell energy storage systems, and power tools. - In Ceramic Insulators: It can be used as a flux in ceramic insulators with a titanate matrix to improve the properties of the ceramics. - In Enamel Manufacturing: Adding about 2% of lithium titanate can improve the whiteness of titanium white enamel glaze and reduce the firing temperature.
Principle of Lithium Titanate
In a lithium-ion battery, during the charging process, lithium ions are inserted into the crystal structure of lithium titanate from the cathode through the electrolyte. During the discharging process, the lithium ions are extracted from the lithium titanate and return to the cathode. The unique crystal structure of lithium titanate allows for this reversible insertion and extraction of lithium ions, enabling the battery to store and release electrical energy. The "zero-strain" property of lithium titanate means that its lattice constant and volume change very little (less than 1%) when lithium ions are inserted or extracted, which is beneficial to the stability and cycle performance of the battery.
Features of Lithium Titanate
- Long Cycle Life: It can undergo thousands of charge and discharge cycles, which greatly extends the service life of the battery.
- High Safety: The insertion potential of lithium is relatively high, which is not easy to generate lithium dendrites, reducing the risk of safety accidents. During charging and discharging, it has high thermal stability.
- Fast Charge and Discharge Capability: Lithium ions have good mobility in it, enabling the battery to achieve fast charging and discharging.
- Stable Chemical Structure: It is stable in various environmental conditions and is not prone to decomposition and deterioration, ensuring the long-term reliability of the battery.
Types of Lithium Titanate
- Carbon-Coated Type: Some lithium titanate products are carbon-coated to improve their conductivity and electrochemical performance. This type has a relatively larger specific surface area.
- Regular Type: The regular type is the basic form without carbon coating, which has its own set of performance characteristics and is widely used in different applications.
- Spherical Type
Precautions for using Lithium Titanate
- Handling and Storage: It should be stored in a normal temperature, airtight, cool, ventilated, and dry place, away from open flames. During handling, appropriate protective measures should be taken to avoid contact with the skin and eyes, as it may cause inflammation.
- Battery Assembly: When using lithium titanate in battery assembly, strict quality control and safety standards should be followed to ensure the correct connection and insulation of components to prevent short circuits and other safety issues.
- Charging and Discharging Management: Appropriate charging and discharging parameters should be set according to the characteristics of lithium titanate to avoid overcharging, overdischarging, and high-rate charging and discharging for a long time, which may affect the performance and life of the battery.
Things to consider when purchasing Lithium Titanate
- Purity and Quality: High-purity lithium titanate has better electrochemical performance and stability. Therefore, when purchasing, it is necessary to check the purity and quality indicators of the product to ensure that it meets the application requirements.
