Growth of well-developed Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ crystals by the cooling of a sodium chloride flux

High-quality Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ crystals were successfully grown at a holding temperature of 800 °C and a solute concentration of 50 mol % using the NaCl flux cooling method. Idiomorphic, highly crystalline, and single-phase Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ crystals were first grown from the NaCl flux; therefore, the method is very low cost and environmentally friendly (i.e., safe for the environment and humans). On the basis of the powder X-ray diffraction data, the lattice parameter of the crystals was determined to be a = 0.838 nm. This value is in good agreement with that from the literature (a = 0.836 nm). The average crystal size was about 2.6 μm. Transmission electron microscope images indicated that the Li ₄Ti₅O₁₂ crystals had very good crystallinity. In addition, the crystal phase, crystallinity, shape, and size of the flux-grown Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ crystals were obviously dependent on the growth conditions, such as the holding temperature and solute concentration.