Abstract
(Graph Presented). Atmospheric pressure Ar/N2 binary plasma jet irradiation has been introduced into the manufacturing process of lithium ions batteries as a facile, green and scalable post-fabrication treatment approach, which enhanced significantly the high-rate anode performance of lithium titanate (Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 ). Main emission lines in Ar/N 2 plasma measured by optical emission spectroscopy reveal that the dominant excited high-energy species in Ar/N 2 plasma are N 2 ∗, N 2 + , N∗ and Ar∗. Sufficient oxygen vacancies have been evidenced by high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and Raman spectra. Nitrogen doping has been achieved simultaneously by the surface reaction between pristine Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 particles and chemically reactive plasma species such as N∗ and N 2 + . The variety of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 particles on the surface of electrodes after different plasma processing time has been examined by grazing incident X-Ray diffraction. Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) confirm that the Ar/N 2 atmospheric plasma treatment facilitates Li + ions diffusion and reduces the internal charge-transfer resistance. The asprepared Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 anodes exhibit a superior capacity (132 mAh g -1 ) and excellent stability with almost no capacity decay over 100 cycles under a high C rate (10C).