Synthesis and optimizable electrochemical performance of reduced graphene oxide wrapped mesoporous TiO₂ microspheres

A facile microwave solvothermal process is developed to prepare an anatase TiO2 anode material that maintains multiple properties including high surface area, high crystallinity, uniform mesoporous, perfect microspheres and uniform particle size. Using this fine anatase TiO₂ product, a TiO₂/RGO (RGO: reduced graphene oxide) hybrid material is prepared under UV-light irradiation. Incorporation of RGO improves the electrochemical kinetics of the TiO₂ microspheres, which results in superior electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacity, rate capability and cycle stability. The material shows a discharge capacity of 155.8 mA h g(-1) at the 5 C rate. Even at the 60 C rate, a high discharge capacity of 83.6 mA h g(-1) is still obtained which is two times higher than that of pristine mesoporous TiO₂.