Electrode characteristics of Li2Ti3O7-ramsdellite processed by mechanical grinding.

The effect of mechanical grinding on the electrochemical properties of Li₂Ti₃O₇ regarding lithium insertion is studied. X-ray diffraction experiments of milling compounds showed a progressively amorphization of the crystalline material due to both crystalline size decreasing and internal strain increasing. These structural modifications are reflected in the electrochemical behavior of Li₂Ti₃O₇, when it is used as the positive electrode in lithium cells. As a function of milling time a higher specific capacity is obtained during the first discharge of the cell, but when charging an increasing in the irreversible capacity is observed. The most promising Li₂Ti₃O₇ based electrode has been achieved, under our experimental conditions, for 13 hours milling that produces a compound with crystallite size of approximately 20 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]