Sandwich structured MoO2@TiO2@CNT nanocomposites with high-rate performance for lithium ion batteries

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is an important anode candidate for Li-ion battery (LIB) due to its properties of excellent cycle, high safety and low cost. However, the poor electrical conductivity of TiO2 presents a significant challenge hampering its practical application in LIBs. Most researches have been concentrated on developing TiO2 composites with metals, metal oxides and carbonaceous materials to improve its conductivity. In this work, we investigated a sandwich structured MoO2@TiO2@CNT nanocomposite through a simple three-step synthesis method. The CNT and highly conductive MoO2 under/on the TiO2 layer are served as flexible and strong electronic paths for rapid electron and ion transport. The resulting MoO2@TiO2@CNT hybrid structures show improved specific capacity and cycling stability compared with TiO2@CNT. In addition, the MoO2@TiO2@CNT composites also show a favorable rate capability, demonstrating its potential as anode material for LIBs.