TiO2/C tetragons with a double-side concave nanostructure and its high rate performance on Na-ion storage

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 567; p. 150756
• Main Authors: Di, Andi, Wang, Yu, Zeng, Hua Chun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 30.11.2021
• Subjects: Metal-organic framework; Na-ion battery; Rate performance; TiO2/C; Metal-organic framework; Rate performance; Na-ion battery; TiO2/C
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2021.150756

TiO2/C prepared using metal-organic framework as the template shows concave structure, which promotes its rate performance of Na-ion storage. [Display omitted] •A simple and one-step synthesis of titania/carbon composite.•Nanoscale TiO2/C composite with a double-side concave structure.•The titania/carbon composite could lead to an enhanced electrochemical performance.•Concave structure permits better contact with the electrolyte. TiO2 is acting as a low-cost and promising candidate for a high capacity anode material of Na-ion batteries. Its insufficient cyclability and poor capacity utilisation for Na-ion storage can be improved by manipulating its nanostructures. We designed and prepared a carbon-coated TiO2 (TiO2/C) material with a double-side concave structure and a large surface area. The as-synthesised TiO2/C with such special nanostructure, delivered a high capacity of ca. 175 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 rate with roughly 100% capacity retention over 1600 cycles and ca. 100% Coulombic efficiency. More significantly, TiO2/C concave tetragons exhibited an outstanding rate capacity of 150 mAh g−1 and 60 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1 and 20 A g−1, respectively. These results demonstrate the design of the special TiO2/C concave tetragons allows a sufficiently long cycle life for battery applications, superior reversibility and enhanced rate for the Na-ion storage.