Enhancing the electrochemical performance of commercial TiO2 by eliminating sulfate radicals and coating carbon. (10th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Li-Ying; Wu, Yan; Han, Jian-Ping; Zhang, Bo; Bai, Xue; Qi, Yong-Xin; Lun, Ning; Cao, Yu-Mei; Bai, Yu-Jun
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 245(2017)
• Page Start: 186
• Page End: 192
• Publication Date: 2017-08-10
• Subjects: Commercial TiO2 -- sulfate radical -- Carbon coating -- Anode material -- Rate capability; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.05.122
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Highlights: Commercial TiO2 (c-TiO2 ) exhibits poor electrochemical performance. The performance of c-TiO2 is improved by coating carbon at temperatures above 750 °C. The removal of SO4 2− and formation of carbon coating are responsible for the enhanced performance. Abstract: Despite the low price of commercial TiO2 (c-TiO2 ), the poor electrochemical performance restricts its practical application in Li-ion batteries, so clarifying the reasons and taking appropriate measures to improve the performance are of great significance. Herein, c-TiO2 was coated with carbon at 600 and 750 °C using glucose as the carbon source. The product obtained at 750 °C exhibits markedly enhanced reversible capacities and outstanding rate performance compared to that obtained at 600 °C. In terms of the comparative experiments and detailed characterizations by several techniques, the SO4 2− remained in the c-TiO2 is the dominant impurity affecting the electrochemical performance mostly. The thorough decomposition of SO4 2− at 750 °C and the formation of carbon coating give rise to the enhanced electronic and ionic conductivities of the c-TiO2, and thus are responsible for the significant improvement in the electrochemical performance. The easy fabrication and the low cost of the raw materials enable the carbon-coated c-TiO2 to industrially apply in the LIBs.