Titania/graphene nanocomposites from scalable gas-phase synthesis for high-capacity and high-stability sodium-ion...

In sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), TiO₂or sodium titanates are discussed as cost-effective anode material. The use of ultrafine TiO₂particles overcomes the effect of intrinsically low electronic and ionic conductivity that otherwise limits the electrochemical performance and thus its Na-ion storage capacity. Especially, TiO₂nanoparticles integrated in a highly conductive, large surface-area, and stable graphene matrix can achieve an exceptional electrochemical rate performance, durability, and increase in capacity. We report the direct and scalable gas-phase synthesis of TiO₂and graphene and their subsequent self-assembly to produce TiO₂/graphene nanocomposites (TiO₂/Gr). Transmission electron microscopy shows that the TiO₂nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on the surface of the graphene nanosheets. TiO₂/Gr nanocomposites with graphene loadings of 20 and 30 wt% were tested as anode in SIBs. With the outstanding electronic conductivity enhancement and a synergistic Na-ion storage effect at the interface of TiO₂nanoparticles and graphene, nanocomposites with 30 wt% graphene exhibited particularly good electrochemical performance with a reversible capacity of 281 mAh g^-1at 0.1 C, compared to pristine TiO₂nanoparticles (155 mAh g^-1). Moreover, the composite showed excellent high-rate performance of 158 mAh g^-1at 20 C and a reversible capacity of 154 mAh g^-1after 500 cycles at 10 C. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the Na-ion storage is dominated by surface and TiO₂/Gr interface processes rather than slow, diffusion-controlled intercalation, explaining its outstanding rate performance. The synthesis route of these high-performing nanocomposites provides a highly promising strategy for the scalable production of advanced nanomaterials for SIBs.