title: Constructing hierarchical spheres from large ultrathin anatase TiO2 nanosheets with nearly 100% exposed (001) facets for fast reversible lithium storage.
abstract: Synthesis of nanocrystals with exposed high-energy facets is a well-known challenge in many fields of science and technology. The higher reactivity of these facets simultaneously makes them desirable catalysts for sluggish chemical reactions and leads to their small populations in an equilibrated crystal. Using anatase TiO(2) as an example, we demonstrate a facile approach for creating high-surface-area stable nanosheets comprising nearly 100% exposed (001) facets. Our approach relies on spontaneous assembly of the nanosheets into three-dimensional hierarchical spheres, which stabilizes them from collapse. We show that the high surface density of exposed TiO(2) (001) facets leads to fast lithium insertion/deinsertion processes in batteries that mimic features seen in high-power electrochemical capacitors.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637457.
authors.forename: Jun Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Chang Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cheah
authors.forename: Deyan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.forename: Srinivasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madhavi
authors.forename: Freddy Yin Chiang
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Boey
authors.forename: Lynden A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: Xiong Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Lou