Flexible free-standing hydrogen-treated titanium dioxide nanowire arrays as a high performance anode for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

Herein, we fabricate flexible free-standing TiO₂ nanowire arrays and create Ti³⁺ (oxygen vacancy) via hydrogenation to improve the electrical conductivity. The hydrogenated-TiO₂ nanowires deliver a high reversible capacity of 517 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 1 C. Moreover, the hydrogenated-TiO₂ nanowires have an excellent rate performance as they still retain 70 mA h g⁻¹ when the current density increases to 50 C. The electrochemical performance of the hydrogenated-TiO₂ nanowires is due to the improved conductivity of TiO₂ nanowires arising from the formation of Ti³⁺ (oxygen vacancy) via hydrogenation.