Integrating the hierarchical structure with well-dispersed conductive agents to realize synergistically enhanced electrode performance

Abstract

A newly designed TiO₂ electrode with enhanced electrochemical performance is obtained by integrating the hierarchical structure with well dispersed graphene and nitrogen doped carbon through a bottom-up assembly approach. The obtained novel hierarchical structure is composed of loosely stacked TiO₂ nanosheets, in which graphene was sandwiched and nitrogen doped carbon was uniformly dispersed. When used as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the material showed excellent rate capability and long cycle life; a high capacity of 151 mA h g⁻¹ is achieved at a current rate of 5 C (1 C = 168 mA g⁻¹) after 100 cycles for the integrated TiO₂ electrode, and a capacity of 105 mA h g⁻¹ is retained at a current rate of 25 C after 200 cycles, which is superior to either single hierarchical structures or just well dispersed conductive agents of the TiO₂ electrode.