Hierarchically porous TiO2 microspheres as a high performance anode for lithium-ion batteries

Hierarchically porous rutile TiO2 microspheres composed of nanorods were fabricated by using a facile synthetic route. These materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Based on a series of experimental results, a self-assembly process for the formation of the hierarchical microspheres was also proposed. Furthermore, the hierarchically porous rutile TiO2 microspheres were used as the negative electrode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and demonstrated a large reversible charge–discharge capacity of 160.4 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 1 C, which was much greater than commercial rutile TiO2 under the same conditions, indicating that these materials had excellent cycling stability and high rate performance.