Facile synthesis of a mesostructured TiO2–graphitized carbon (TiO2–gC) composite through the hydrothermal process and its application as the anode of lithium ion batteries

A mesostructured TiO2–graphitic carbon (TiO2–gC) composite was synthesized through a simple and scalable hydrothermal method to be employed as an anode material in Li-ion batteries. In a wide voltage range (0.0–2.5 V), the TiO2–gC composite anode possesses a high initial lithiation capacity (598 mA h g−1) at 0.1 C (1 C: 150 mA g−1), and it still retains 369 mA h g−1 after 50 cycles at 0.5 C. Furthermore, under a high current density of 2 C, the TiO2–gC anode exhibits stable capacity (252 mA h g−1) retention for up to 200 cycles. This excellent electrochemical performance could be ascribed to a synergistic effect of well-developed mesoporosity with a high surface area (345.4 m2 g−1), the conductive graphitic carbon wall, and uniformly dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles, resulting in improved Li+ penetration, fast electron transport and high structural stability during cycling.