One-pot solvothermal synthesis of graphene-supported TiO2 (B) nanosheets with enhanced lithium storage properties

A facile process was developed for the synthesis of graphene-supported TiO2 (B) nanosheets (GTBN) composite based on the hydrothermal treatment titanium (III) chloride and graphene oxide in an ethylene glycol. The morphology and microstructure of the composites were examined by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The obtained GTBN show a high thermal stability and the phase transformation of TiO2 (B) to anatase can be prevented by graphene after pyrolysis of GTBN at 350°C for 2h. Furthermore, GTBN exhibited high rate performance and stability of lithium ion batteries, due to the enhanced conductivity of the electrode and accommodation to volume/strain changes during lithium insertion-extraction.