Constructing hierarchical submicrotubes from interconnected TiO2 nanocrystals for high reversible capacity and long-life lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Here, we report a facile hydrothermal approach for synthesizing anatase TiO2 hierarchical mesoporous submicrotubes (ATHMSs) with the aid of long-chain polymer as soft template. The TiO2 nanocrystals, with sizes of 6–8 nm, are well interconnected with each other to build tubular architectures with diameters of 0.3–1.5 μm and lengths of 10–25 μm. Such highly porous structures give rise to very large specific surface area of 201.9 m2 g−1 and 136.8 m2 g−1 for the as-prepared and annealed samples, respectively. By using structurally stable ATHMSs as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, they exhibited high reversible capacity, long cycling life and excellent cycling stability. Even after 1000 cycles, such ATHMS electrodes retained a reversible discharge capacity as high as 150 mAh g−1 at the current density of 1700 mA g−1, maintaining 92% of the initial discharge capacity (163 mAh g−1).