Synthesis and electrochemical characteristics of spherical li₄ti₅o₁₂/CNT composite materials for hybrid capacitors

Spherical Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ and Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ carbon nanotube (CNT) composites were synthesized using a colloid system. The electrochemical properties of the composites were thoroughly examined to determine their applicability as hybrid capacitor anodes. The electrical conductivity of the spherical Li₄Ti₅O₁₂-CNT composite was improved over that of the spherical Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ composite. The synthesized composites were utilized as the anode of a hybrid capacitor, which was assembled with an activated carbon (AC) positive electrode. The CNTs attached on the spherical Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ particles contributed to a 51% reduction of the equivalent series of resistance of the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂-CNTs/AC hybrid capacitor compared to the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/ AC hybrid capacitor. Moreover, the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂-CNTs/AC hybrid capacitor showed a larger capacitance than the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/ AC hybrid capacitor; specifically, the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂-CNT/AC hybrid capacitor showed 1.6 times greater capacitance at 40 cycles with a 10 mA cm^-2 loading current density.