Electrochemical characterization of TiNb 2 O 7 as anode material synthesized using microwave‐assisted microemulsion route

• Published in: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Vol. 105; no. 12; pp. 7446 - 7454
• Main Authors: Liang, Kai‐Hsiang, Som, Sudipta, Gupta, Karan Kumar, Lu, Chung‐Hsin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2022
• ISSN: 0002-7820; 1551-2916
• DOI: 10.1111/jace.18694

Abstract TiNb 2 O 7 materials were synthesized via a microwave‐assisted microemulsion technique and a conventional solid‐state reaction route. Microwave‐assisted microemulsion process produced TiNb 2 O 7 powders with small particle sizes (50–100 nm) and increased surface area (22.4 m 2 /g) in comparison to the samples synthesized from solid‐state method. Micelles in the microemulsion acted as nano‐reactors and confined the grain growth of TiNb 2 O 7 . The microwave‐assisted microemulsion‐derived TiNb 2 O 7 powders presented a high discharge capacity of 333.2 mAh/g at 0.1C. The materials also delivered 94.8% retention at 5C after 100 cycles. The solid‐state derived samples only processed the 283.2‐mAh/g discharge capacity at 0.1C with 83.2% retention at 5C after 100 cycles. The amended capacity and cyclability of microwave‐assisted microemulsion‐derived TiNb 2 O 7 resulted from the augmented Li + diffusion and the diminished charge transfer resistance. It was also found that the microwave‐assisted microemulsion‐derived TiNb 2 O 7 delivered 208 mAh/g discharge capacity at 10C, which was higher than solid‐state derived samples (92 mAh/g). The improved capacity was owing to the enhancement in pseudocapacitive contribution. Present research indicated that the microwave‐assisted microemulsion method effectively enhanced the electrochemical performance of TiNb 2 O 7 powders.