Tuning three-dimensional TiO2 nanotube electrode to achieve high utilization of Ti substrate for lithium storage

• A model of TiO2 nanotube arrays growing on Ti mesh was proposed.
• The TiO2/Ti mesh was used for the anode without current collector or binder required.
• The capacity of the TiO2/Ti-600 min mesh electrode is 1745.5 μAh cm−2 over 100 cycles.
• The TiO2/Ti mesh electrode still maintains its 3D nanostructure after 100 cycles.

Three-dimensional (3D) TiO2 nanotube arrays grown on Ti mesh were prepared via the anodization process. The diameters of the Ti and TiO2/Ti wires and the length of the TiO2 nanotubes have linear relationships with the anodization processing time. When the anodization processing time is 600 min, the TiO2/Ti mesh anode materials showed good capacity retention and high specific area capacity, without the need for a current collector or binder, due to their high surface area, high substrate utilization, and large active material loading rate per unit area. At the current density of 50 μA cm−2, TiO2/Ti mesh with 600 min anodization processing time has a stable discharge platform at 1.78 V, and the specific area capacity is 1745.5 μAh cm−2 over 100 cycles. By tuning the geometric parameters of the TiO2/Ti mesh and the anodization processing time, we can pave the way to finding TiO2/Ti mesh electrodes for lithium-ion batteries with high capacity per unit area and outstanding mechanical behaviour.