Crystallinity-controlled titanium oxide-carbon nanocomposites with enhanced lithium storage performance

Nanocomposites of crystalline-controlled TiO(2) -carbon are prepared by a novel one-step approach and applied in anodes of lithium ion batteries. In our nanocomposite anodes, the Li(+) capacity contribution from the TiO(2) phase was enormous, above 400 mAh g(-1) (Li(1+x) TiO(2) , x>0.2), and the volumetric capacity was as high as 877 mAh cm(-3) with full voltage utilization to 0 V versus Li/Li(+) , which resulted in higher energy density than that of state-of-the-art titania anodes. For the first time, it was clearly revealed that the capacity at 1.2 and 2.0 V corresponded to Li(+) storage at amorphous and crystalline TiO(2) , respectively. Furthermore, improvements in the rate capability and cycle performance were observed; this was attributed to resistance reduction induced by higher electrical/Li(+) conduction and faster Li(+) diffusion.