Oxygen-deficient Zn2Ti3O8−x nanoparticle as anode material for lithium ion batteries

Zn2Ti3O8−x nanoparticles containing oxygen vacancies were prepared with nanotube titanium acid as the titanium source via molten salt method in air atmosphere in order to improve the electronic conductivity of zinc titanate as the anode of lithium-ion batteries. The effect of oxygen vacancies on the structure and electrochemical properties of the as-prepared Zn2Ti3O8−x nanoparticles as the electrode material of lithium ion batteries was studied with Zn2Ti3O8 prepared from commercial P25-TiO2 as a control. Findings indicate that the as-prepared Zn2Ti3O8−x nanoparticles contain a large amount of oxygen vacancies and Ti3+ in the bulk phase, and they exhibit markedly improved electrochemical properties than Zn2Ti3O8 without oxygen vacancy. Namely, the electrode made of the as-prepared Zn2Ti3O8−x nanoparticles exhibits a high capacity of 246, 222, 181, 156, 127 and 88 mA h/g at a current density of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 A/g, and it does not undergo obvious capacity fading after 450 cycle of charge/discharge at a current density of 0.1 A/g, showing great potential as the anode material for high-rate and long-life lithium-ion batteries. This is because the oxygen vacancies and Ti3+ in the bulk phase can significantly enhance the electronic conductivity of the electrode material.