Open AccessNanoengineering to Achieve High Sodium Storage: A Case Study of Carbon Coated Hierarchical Nanoporous TiO 2 Microfibers
Author(s) -
Wang Nü,
Gao Yuan,
Wang YunXiao,
Liu Kai,
Lai Weihong,
Hu Yemin,
Zhao Yong,
Chou ShuLei,
Jiang Lei
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.201600013
Subject(s) - microfiber , nanoporous , materials science , electrospinning , nanoengineering , nanotechnology , fabrication , chemical engineering , electrochemistry , carbon fibers , porosity , electrode , composite material , chemistry , polymer , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , composite number , engineering
Nanoengineering of electrode materials can directly facilitate sodium ion accessibility and transport, thus enhancing electrochemical performance in sodium ion batteries. Here, highly sodium‐accessible carbon coated nanoporous TiO 2 microfibers have been synthesised via the facile electrospinning technique which can deliver an enhanced capacity of ≈167 mAh g −1 after 450 cycles at current density of 50 mA g −1 and retain a capacity of ≈71 mAh g −1 at the high current rate of 1 A g −1 . With the benefits of their porous structure, thin TiO 2 inner walls, and the introduction of conductive carbon, the nanoporous TiO 2 /C microfibers exhibit high ion accessibility, fast Na ion transport, and fast electron transport, thereby leading to the excellent Na‐storage properties presented here. Nanostructuring is proven to be a fruitful strategy that can alleviate the reliance on materials' intrinsic nature; and the electrospinning technique is versatile and cost‐effective for the fabrication of such an effective nanoporous microfiber structure.