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Electrochemical In Situ Formation of a Stable Ti‐Based Skeleton for Improved Li‐Storage Properties: A Case Study of Porous CoTiO 3 Nanofibers
Author(s) -
Liu SiYu,
Fan ChaoYing,
Wang HanChi,
Zhang JingPing,
Wu XingLong
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201700984
Subject(s) - materials science , bimetallic strip , electrospinning , anode , nanofiber , electrochemistry , chemical engineering , transition metal , oxide , cyclic voltammetry , electrolyte , electrode , lithium (medication) , nanotechnology , metal , catalysis , composite material , chemistry , metallurgy , medicine , biochemistry , polymer , engineering , endocrinology
Bimetallic transition‐metal oxides, which exhibit superior electrochemical properties compared with pristine single‐metal oxides, have recently become a topic of significant research interest for applications in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we report a simple and scalable electrospinning method to synthesize porous CoTiO 3 nanofibers as the precursor for nanostructured bimetallic transition‐metal oxides formed electrochemically in situ. This strategy ensures uniform mixing and perfect contact between two constituent transition‐metal oxides during the lithiation/delithiation process. Furthermore, CoTiO 3 nanofibers based on ultrafine CoTiO 3 nanocrystals are interconnected to form a nano/microstructured 3D network, which ensures the high stability of the in situ formed structure composed of bimetallic transition‐metal oxides, and also fast ion/electron transfer and electrolyte penetration into the electrode. Electrochemical measurements revealed the excellent lithium storage (647 mAh g −1 at 0.1 Ag −1 ) and retention properties (600 mAh g −1 at 1 Ag −1 after 1200 cycles) of the CoO/TiO 2 electrode. Moreover, the electrochemical reaction mechanism was explored by using ex situ X‐ray photoelectric spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry tests, which confirmed the two‐phase reaction processes in the electrodes. These results clearly validate the potential of CoTiO 3 with a unique nano/microstructured morphology as the precursor for a bimetallic transition‐metal oxide for use as the anode material for long‐life LIBs.