High
capacity, fast charging/discharging, safe operation, and long
cycle-time are the essential properties of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs)
for electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage applications.
To meet those properties, an alternative anode has to be developed
to replace the traditional graphite electrode. This study aims to
demonstrate the effectiveness of Mo–Nb oxide (MNO)-based anode
material for fast charging LiB. LiOH is primarily used not only as
a source of Li dopant but also as a sintering agent during the solid-state
reaction to lower the calcination temperature. After lithium doping,
the electrochemical test shows that the C-rate coefficients and capacity
retention increase from 12 to 20 C and from 23 to 70.3%, respectively.
To further improve the electronic conductivity, Li-added MNO (Li-MNO)
is coated with a conductive nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) layer by the
pyrolysis method under an argon atmosphere. With more excellent electronic
conductivity, the Li-MNO/NC delivers higher specific capacities of
112, 76, and 42 mAhg–1 at high C-rates of 5, 10,
and 20 C, respectively, as compared to the Li-MNO with capacities
of 75, 50, and 22.8 mAhg–1 at the same C-rates.
It retains 70% of its capacity after 100 cycles.