Interconnected carbon-decorated Tio2 nanocrystals with enhanced lithium storage performance

•Carbon-decorated TiO2 nanocrystals were prepared by novel direct method.•The preparation mechanism of the carbon-decorated TiO2 nanocrystals was clarified.•The novel material exhibited superior anode performance in lithium ion batteries.•Reversible capacity and initial efficiency were 184 mAh g−1 and 87 %, respectively.•High rate capability and stable cycle performance were observed.

A novel direct preparation method was developed to prepare interconnected carbon-decorated TiO2 nanocrystals. The as-prepared composite exhibited a morphology of interconnected 10 nm TiO2 nanocrystals with uniform carbon coverage. As anode in lithium ion batteries, high reversible capacity of 184 mAh g− 1 with 87.4% initial coulomb efficiency, outstanding rate performance and stable cycle life were observed, which was attributed to ultrafine particle size, uniform carbon coating and high preparation temperature.