Oxygen deficient, carbon coated self-organized TiO2 nanotubes as anode material for Li-ion intercalation

J. Brumbarov; J. P. Vivek; S. Leonardi; C. Valero-Vidal; E. Portenkirchner; J. Kunze-Liebhäuser

doi:10.1039/C5TA03621F

Oxygen deficient, carbon coated self-organized TiO₂ nanotubes as anode material for Li-ion intercalation†

J. Brumbarov,^a J. P. Vivek,^b S. Leonardi,^a C. Valero-Vidal,^c E. Portenkirchner*^c and J. Kunze-Liebhäuser^c

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* Corresponding authors

^a Technische Universität München, Physik Department E19, James-Franck-Str. 1, Garching, Germany

^b University of Liverpool, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, Peach Street, Liverpool, UK

^c Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Innrain 52c, Innsbruck, Austria
E-mail: Engelbert.Portenkirchner@uibk.ac.at

Abstract

Since several years, research for high capacity anode materials in Li-ion batteries is addressed to titanium dioxide (TiO₂), which offers important advantages in terms of cost effectiveness, safety and environmental compatibility. This work reports on the lithiation and delithiation characteristics of anodically grown, self-organized TiO₂ nanotubes annealed in Ar (TiO_2−x) and Ar/C₂H₂ (TiO_2−x–C). The systems are used as model composite electrodes for the anode in Li-ion batteries. Anatase TiO_2−x–C nanotubes demonstrate a superior Li storage capacity as high as 320(±68) mA h g⁻¹ (Li_0.96TiO₂) compared to 180(±38) mA h g⁻¹ (Li_0.54TiO₂) for TiO_2−x. This is comparable to the highest reported capacities for TiO₂ nanotubes to date. The double layer capacities are estimated from cyclic voltammetry measurements to 85 μF cm⁻² for TiO_2−x and 20 μF cm⁻² for TiO_2−x–C nanotubes respectively. Additionally, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals smaller charge transfer resistances for TiO_2−x–C nanotubes at the solid/liquid interface which improves the transfer of Li⁺-ions from the electrolyte into the electrode.

This article is part of the themed collection: 2015 Journal of Materials Chemistry A Hot Papers

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Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TA03621F
Article type: Paper
Submitted: 18 May 2015
Accepted: 10 Jul 2015
First published: 13 Jul 2015

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J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 16469-16477

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Oxygen deficient, carbon coated self-organized TiO₂ nanotubes as anode material for Li-ion intercalation

J. Brumbarov, J. P. Vivek, S. Leonardi, C. Valero-Vidal, E. Portenkirchner and J. Kunze-Liebhäuser, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 16469 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA03621F

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Journal of Materials Chemistry A