Negative active material for rechargeable lithium battery, method of preparing the same, and rechargeable lithium battery including the same

A method for preparing a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, comprising:

• preparing a lithium titanium oxide precursor represented by the following Formula 1 by mixing a titanium source and a lithium source through a mechano-chemical treatment;
• crushing the lithium titanium oxide precursor;
• and
• preparing a lithium titanium oxide by performing heat treatment on the crushed lithium titanium oxide precursor at a temperature of 650 to 775° C. wherein the lithium titanium oxide has a tap density within a range of approximately 1.2 g/cc to 2.2 g/cc, and a particle diameter within a range of approximately 200 nm to 500 nm:
• LixTiyOz [Chemical Formula 1]
• wherein, in the above formula,
• 0.1≦x≦4, 1≦y≦5, and 2≦z≦12.

A negative electrode for rechargeable lithium battery, comprising:

• a negative active material comprising lithium titanium oxide represented by the following Formula 1 and having a tap density of 1.2 to 2.2 g/cc, and having a particle diameter within a range of approximately 200 nm to 500 nm:
• LixTiyOz [Chemical Formula 1]
• wherein, in the above formula,
• 0.1≦x≦4, 1≦y≦5, and 2≦z≦12
• a conductive material;
• and
• a binder.

A rechargeable lithium battery, comprising:

• a negative electrode comprising a negative active material which comprises lithium titanium oxide represented by the following Formula 1 and having a tap density of 1.2 to 2.2 g/cc, and having a particle diameter within a range of approximately 200 nm to 500 nm:
• LixTiyOz [Chemical Formula 1]
• wherein, in the above formula,
• 0.1≦x≦4, 1≦y≦5, and 2≦z≦12;
• a positive electrode including a positive active material;
• and
• an electrolyte.