Nanoengineering to Achieve High Sodium Storage: A Case Study of Carbon Coated Hierarchical Nanoporous TiO2 Microfibers. Issue 8 (15th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Nü; Gao, Yuan; Wang, Yun‐Xiao; Liu, Kai; Lai, Weihong; Hu, Yemin; Zhao, Yong; Chou, Shu‐Lei; Jiang, Lei
• Is Part Of: Advanced science. Volume 3:Issue 8(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2016-04-15
• Subjects: electrospinning -- nanoporous microfibers -- sodium‐ion battery -- TiO2 anode; Science -- Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.1002/advs.201600013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2198-3844

Abstract

Abstract : Nanoengineering of electrode materials can directly facilitate sodium ion accessibility and transport, thus enhancing electrochemical performance in sodium ion batteries. Here, highly sodium‐accessible carbon coated nanoporous TiO2 microfibers have been synthesised via the facile electrospinning technique which can deliver an enhanced capacity of ≈167 mAh g −1 after 450 cycles at current density of 50 mA g −1 and retain a capacity of ≈71 mAh g −1 at the high current rate of 1 A g −1 . With the benefits of their porous structure, thin TiO2 inner walls, and the introduction of conductive carbon, the nanoporous TiO2 /C microfibers exhibit high ion accessibility, fast Na ion transport, and fast electron transport, thereby leading to the excellent Na‐storage properties presented here. Nanostructuring is proven to be a fruitful strategy that can alleviate the reliance on materials' intrinsic nature; and the electrospinning technique is versatile and cost‐effective for the fabrication of such an effective nanoporous microfiber structure. Abstract : Nanoporous TiO2 ‐C microfibers exhibit exceptional electrochemical performance for sodium‐ion batteries. The nanoporous structure with thin inner walls can facilitate ion accessibility and ion transport. The incorporation of carbon can enhance the electronic conductivity. The electrode configuration with nanoporous microfiber construction, therefore, is essential and effective for electrode advancement, especially for transition metal oxides.