As a promising safe electrode material for high-power lithium ion batteries, the specific capacity of TiO₂ anode up to date is still limited. In this work, we have demonstrated a facile electrochemical anodization for TiO_x nanotubular arrays of oxygen defects in the nitrogen atmosphere. In comparison with those fabricated in air condition, the as-prepared nanotubular arrays present much reduced impedance with oxygen defects, which allow fast electronic and ionic transport in the TiO_x nanotubular arrays. The binder-free anode based on the as-prepared TiO_x nanotubular exhibited the record-setting capacities (395, 325, and 235 mAh g^-1 at 0.2 C, 1 C and 10 C, respectively) achieved in the TiO₂-based anode materials, therefore approaching state-of-the-art for TiO₂ electrodes in the lithium ion batteries.

Reference

[1] Li-Zhen Fan, Shang-Sen Chi, Lu-Ning Wang, Wei-Li Song, Min He, Lin Gu. Synthesis of TiOx Nanotubular Arrays with Oxygen Defects as High-Performance Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries. ChemElectroChem, 2015, 2(3): 421-426.