Enhanced electrochemical performance of Li-ion batteries with nanoporous titania as negative electrodes

Nanoporous anatase TiO2 (np-TiO2) electrodes have been developed via the anodization of titanium foils in fluoride containing electrolytes, and its application in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) was investigated. Four different types of np-TiO2 electrodes with different pore diameters of 14.7±8.2 nm, 12.8±6.8 nm, 11.0±5.5, and 26.7±13.6 nm were fabricated for evaluating the effect of nanoporous characteristics on the LIB performance. The discharge capacity of the four battery types 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 132.7 mAh·g−1, 316.7 mAh·g−1, 154.3 mAh·g−1, and 228.4 mAh·g−1, respectively. In addition, these electrodes 1, 2, 3, and 4 exhibited reversible capacity of 106.9 mAh·g−1 after 295th, 180.9 mAh·g−1 after 220th, 126.1 mAh·g−1 after 150th, and 206.7 mAh·g−1 after 85th cycle at a rate of 1 C, respectively. It was noted that the cyclic life of the batteries had an inverse relationship, and the capacity had a proportional relationship to the pore diameter. The enhanced electrochemical performance of the nanoporous electrodes can be attributed to the improved conductivity and the enhanced kinetics of lithium insertion/extraction at electrode/electrolyte interfaces because of the large specific surface area of np-TiO2 electrodes.

The capacity of the LIBs exhibited a proportional relationship, and their cyclic life exhibited an inverse relationship to the pore diameter of np-TiO2. High lithium insertion capacity of 316.7 mAh/g was observed with np-TiO2 as negative electrodes.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide