Porous TiO2 nanobelts coated with mixed transition-metal oxides Sn3O4 nanosheets core-shell composites as high-performance anode materials of lithium ion batteries

A novel type of porous TiO2 nanobelts anchored with Sn3O4 nanosheets (TiO2 nanobelts @Sn3O4 nanosheets) core-shell composites were developed via two-step hydrothermal methods. The structure, morphology, formation mechanism and electrochemical performance of the porous TiO2 nanobelts coated with mixed transition-metal oxides Sn3O4 nanosheets core-shell composites were researched. The results illustrated that the Sn3O4 nanosheets were uniformly anchored on the surface of the porous TiO2 nanobelts, which were almost perpendicular to the porous TiO2 nanobelts. The composites as anode materials exhibited more remarkable electrochemical performances than the Sn3O4 nanosheet and the porous TiO2 nanobelts, in terms of the cycling performance and rate capability. The initial discharge capacity was 1513.7 mAh/g and the reversible capacity was 659 mAh/g after 50 cycles. This study perhaps inspired the designing of other transition metal oxide-based anode materials with desirable electrochemical performance for applications of lithium ion batteries.