Issue 12, 2015

Facile synthesis of graphene supported ultralong TiO2 nanofibers from the commercial titania for high performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Novel nanocomposites consisting of two-dimensional graphene nanosheets and ultralong TiO2 nanofibers are fabricated via a simple one-pot hydrothermal reaction using commercial TiO2 particles as inorganic precursors. Complex chemical synthesis processes and high cost precursors can be avoided. When used as anodes of lithium ion batteries, the obtained nanocomposites exhibit a superior rate capability and an excellent long-term cycling stability. The nanocomposites maintain a charge capacity of 85 mA h g−1 at 20 C, while the TiO2 nanofibers fail when cycled at 5 C. The nanocomposites also demonstrate an excellent cycling stability with a charge capacity of 92 mA h g−1 after 1000 cycles at 10 C, approximately three times the capacity of the TiO2 nanofibers. The superior electrochemical performance can be attributed to the hybrid structure of the graphene nanosheets and the ultralong TiO2 nanofibers. The graphene nanosheets provide highly electronically conductive pathways and work as protected layers to keep the active material integrated during charging/discharging processes. The ultralong TiO2 nanofibers with high specific surface area have a short ion diffusion distance and provide more accessible sites. By combining the advantages of the graphene nanosheets and TiO2 nanofibers, the nanocomposites exhibit obviously improved electrochemical performances.

Graphical abstract: Facile synthesis of graphene supported ultralong TiO2 nanofibers from the commercial titania for high performance lithium-ion batteries

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Jan 2015
Accepted
16 Feb 2015
First published
16 Feb 2015

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 6642-6648

Author version available

Facile synthesis of graphene supported ultralong TiO2 nanofibers from the commercial titania for high performance lithium-ion batteries

G. Gu, J. Cheng, X. Li, W. Ni, Q. Guan, G. Qu and B. Wang, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 6642 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA00523J

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