Carbon coated K(0.8)Ti(1.73)Li(0.27)O4: a novel anode material for sodium-ion batteries with a long cycle life.

Carbon coated K0.8Ti1.73Li0.27O4 (KTLO) has been synthesized by a facile flux method followed by ball-milling and gaseous carbon coating. The carbon coated KTLO delivers a reversible specific capacity of 119.6 mA h g(-1) at 20 mA g(-1) with no capacity loss after 250 cycles as an anode material in sodium ion batteries, exhibiting an improved rate capability of 66 mA h g(-1) at 200 mA g(-1). It was found that carbon coating of KTLO not only enhances its electronic conductivity, but also improves the structure stability, proving that the carbon coated KTLO is a promising anode material for sodium ion batteries.