Synthesis of one-dimensional graphene-encapsulated TiO2 nanofibers with enhanced lithium storage capacity for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

The one-dimensional graphene/TiO2 composite nanofibers with the unique microstructures have been successfully synthesized via an efficient method and showed the improved rate capacity and excellent high rate performances as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The existence of graphene not only improves the electronic conductivity for serving as the additional transport channel but also avoids the agglomeration of anatase TiO2 nanofibers, consequently keeping their high active surface area. The graphene/TiO2 nanofibers possess the high reversible capacity (284.4 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles) and superior cyclic capacity retention at each of the different current rates for sequential cycles and exhibit the outstanding high rate performance with a capacity of 130 mAh g−1 at a current rate as high as 3200 mA g−1 after 300 cycles. The complementary and synergistic effect between anatase TiO2 nanofibers and graphene indicates that the graphene/TiO2 nanofibers could be one of the potential candidates for the related energy storage systems.