Facile synthesis of a mesostructured TiO2-graphitized carbon (TiO2-gC) composite through the hydrothermal process and its application as the anode of lithium ion batteries

Abstract

A mesostructured TiO2-graphitic carbon (TiO2-gC) composite was synthesized through a simple and scalable hydrothermal method to be employed as an anode material in Li-ion batteries. In a wide voltage range (0.0-2.5 V), the TiO2-gC composite anode possesses a high initial lithiation capacity (598 mA h g(-1)) at 0.1 C (1 C: 150 mA g(-1)), and it still retains 369 mA h g(-1) after 50 cycles at 0.5 C. Furthermore, under a high current density of 2 C, the TiO2-gC anode exhibits stable capacity (252 mA h g(-1)) retention for up to 200 cycles. This excellent electrochemical performance could be ascribed to a synergistic effect of well-developed mesoporosity with a high surface area (345.4 m(2) g(-1)), the conductive graphitic carbon wall, and uniformly dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles, resulting in improved Li+ penetration, fast electron transport and high structural stability during cycling.