Effect of Li/Ti ratio on microstructure and thermal diffusivity of lithium titanate for solid breeding material

A non-stoichiometric solid state compounds of lithium titanate of the Li2SnO3-type structure with the space group C2/c (No. 15), Z = 8 (denoted as Li2TiO3 ss) were successfully synthesized using the powders of LiOH·H2O and H2TiO3 as the starting materials. The crystal structure of the compounds was analyzed by X-ray diffractometry using Cu Kα radiation. The Li/Ti ratio in the compounds was analyzed by an inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. The microstructure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Thermal diffusivity was measured by the laser flash method. The influences of the Li/Ti ratio on microstructure, Li density, and thermal diffusivity were investigated. Li density of the compounds increased due to the synergy effect of the good sintering behavior and the Li-rich composition. The increase in the Li/Ti ratios of the compounds encouraged the sintering and increased the thermal diffusivity.