Synthesis of Lithium Titanate Whisker Using Ion-Exchange of Acid Treatment

Lithium titanate whiske($Li_{x}Ti_{4}O_9$) was prepared by an ion-exchange reaction. To this end, the initial material, potassium tetratitanate ($K_{2}Ti_{4}O_9{\cdot}nH_{2}O$) was prepared by calcination of a mixture of $K_{2}CO_3\;and\;TiO_2$ with a molar ratio of 2.8 at $1050^{\circ}C$ for 3 h, followed by boiling water treatment of the calcined products for 10 h. Fibrous potassium tetratitanate could be transformed into layered hydrous titanium dioxide ($H_{2}Ti_{4}O_9{\cdot}nH_{2}O$) through an exchange of $K^{+}\;with\;H^{+}$ using 0.075 M HCl. Also, lithium titanate whisker was finally prepared as $Li^{+}\;and\;H^{+}$ ions were exchanged by adding 20 mL of a mixture solution of LiOH and $LiNO_3$ to 1g whisker and stirring for $5\~15$ days. The average length and diameter of the $Li_{x}Ti_{4}O_9$ whiskers were $10\~20{\mu}m\;and\;1\~3{\mu}m$, respectively.