Titanium dioxide-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries: structure and synthesis

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have high energy density, long life, good safety, and environmental friendliness, and have been widely used in large-scale energy storage and mobile electronic devices. As a cheap and non-toxic anode material for LIBs, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has a good application prospect. However, its poor electrical conductivity leads to unsatisfactory electrochemical performance, which limits its large-scale application. In this review, the structure of three TiO₂ polymorphs which are widely investigated are briefly described, then the preparation and electrochemical performance of TiO₂ with different morphologies, such as nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes, and nanospheres, and the related research on the TiO₂ composite materials with carbon, silicon, and metal materials are discussed. Finally, the development trend of TiO₂-based anode materials for LIBs has been briefly prospected.

Fig. 1. Anatase, rutile, and brookite crystal structure of TiO₂.

Fig. 2. The voltage–capacity curves of anatase TiO₂.

Fig. 3. Preparation process of mesomorphic TiO₂ with brookite phase.

Fig. 4. XRD pattern and FE-SEM images of TiO₂ nanoflowers.

Fig. 5. Schematic diagram of the growth mechanism of TiO₂ microspheres.

Fig. 6. Schematic illustration of the probable formation mechanism of hollow porous TiO₂ microspheres.

Fig. 7. SEM images of 3D nanotree composed of (a–c) nanorods (d–f) nanoribbons (g–i) nanowires.

Fig. 8. Schematical illustration of the synthetic process of C@TiO₂/3D pollen carbon.

Fig. 9. Schematic diagram of the preparation process of Si@TiO₂ composite.