Ternary perovskite nickel titanate/reduced graphene oxide nano-composite with improved lithium storage properties

Abstract

As anode materials, TiO₂ exhibits a suitable potential, fast kinetics and excellent cycling performance, while other transition metal oxides (such as NiO) deliver a much higher theoretical capacity with a moderate kinetics and limited cycling performance. Herein, a novel perovskite NiTiO₃/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composite with a particle size of 40–50 nm was first synthesized by solvothermal method and introduced as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The structure morphology and electrochemical performance of NiTiO₃/RGO nanocomposite were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), galvanostatic charge–discharge tests, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. The NiTiO₃/RGO nanocomposite delivers a higher discharge capacity (1110.7 mA h g⁻¹) and better cycling stability (65.3%), as well as improved rate capability over 50 cycles, compared with those of bare NiTiO₃. The improved electrochemical properties of NiTiO₃/RGO can be attributed to the good conductivity and large surface of RGO and the combination nanostructure of NiTiO₃ and RGO.