Carbon nanofiber-templated mesoporous TiO2 nanotubes as a high-capacity anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

The present communication demonstrates the synthesis of uniform mesoporous TiO₂ nanotubes via hydrolysis and condensation of tetrabutyl titanate (TBOT) using carbon nanofibers as templates followed by calcination under air. We further demonstrate the use of such TiO₂ nanotubes as an anode material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high discharge capacity, good rate capability and excellent cycling performance. They deliver a high discharge capacity of 209.6 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.2 C in the voltage range 1.0–3.0 V. They can still deliver a discharge capacity of 108.1 and 88.8 mA h g⁻¹ with 100 and 93.2% capacity retention after 500 charge–discharge cycles under current densities of 2 and 4 C, respectively.