Engineered CuO@TiO₂ Core-Shell on rGO as Anode for High-Performance Lithium- and Sodium-Ion Batteries

In the present investigation heterostructure CuO@TiO₂ and its hybrid engineered system created by an addition of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) that is, CuO@TiO₂/rGO have been examined as anode in Li/Na-ion battery application. The electrochemical performance of as-fabricated mesoporous CuO@TiO₂/rGO, CuO@TiO₂, pristine CuO, and pristine TiO₂ have been explored as anode for Li/Na-ion batteries. After 200 cycles, the discharging capacities of CuO@TiO₂/rGO anode is found to be 653 mAhg^-1 while CuO@TiO₂, pristine CuO and pristine TiO₂ have shown a lithium storage capacity of 343, 184, and 99 mAhg^-1 respectively at high current density (200 mAg^-1). On the other side, as-fabricated mesoporous CuO@TiO₂/rGO and CuO@TiO₂ have been also checked as anode in sodium ion batteries. After 100 cycles, CuO@TiO₂/rGO and CuO@TiO₂ have shown a sodium storage capacity of 240 and 144 mAhg^-1 respectively at 200 mAg^-1 which clearly shows that out of the studies materials, CuO@TiO₂/rGO is optimum in terms of electrochemical performance in both storage system. The tentative mechanism for the enhanced electrochemical behavior CuO@TiO₂/rGO has been discussed and described based upon X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To our best understanding, this is the first report of engineered CuO@TiO₂/rGO anode with high Li/Na-ion storage capacity.