Hierarchical Structured Cu/Ni/TiO₂ Nanocomposites as Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Transition metal oxides (TMOs) are promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).
• Their practical application is limited by poor electrochemical and mechanical stability.
• Developing robust current collectors is crucial for enhancing TMO anode performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a novel hierarchical current collector for TMO active materials.
• To investigate the electrochemical performance of a TiO2-based anode with this new current collector.
• To understand the synergistic effects contributing to improved battery performance.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hierarchical current collector using porous nickel on a copper substrate with microchannels.
• One-step synthesis and casting of anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles onto the current collector.
• Electrochemical characterization including capacity, rate capability, and cyclic stability tests.
• Material analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS).

Main Results:

• The fabricated Cu/Ni/TiO2 electrode demonstrated excellent capacity, rate capability, and cyclic stability.
• A maximum insertion coefficient of ~0.85 for Li_xTiO2 was achieved, indicating high performance.
• SEM and EDS confirmed uniform and stable distribution of TiO2 nanoparticles within the Ni microchannels during cycling.
• Synergistic effects between nano-TiO2 and the hierarchical Cu/Ni current collector were observed.

Conclusions:

• The novel hierarchical Cu/Ni/TiO2 anode exhibits enhanced electrochemical reaction activity and stability.
• Shortened lithium ion diffusion pathways and optimized electron transport contribute to superior performance.
• The design effectively accommodates volume changes in TiO2 nanoparticles, ensuring long-term cycling stability.
• This hierarchical structure offers a promising strategy for developing high-performance LIB anodes.