title: Wet chemical synthesis of Cu/TiO2 nanocomposites with integrated nano-current-collectors as high-rate anode materials in lithium-ion batteries.
abstract: Using a soft-template assisted method, well-organized Cu/TiO(2) nanoarchitectured electrode materials with copper nanowires as their own current collectors are synthesized by controlled hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate in the presence of Cu-based nanowires, and investigated by SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical tests towards lithium storage. Two types of Cu/TiO(2) nanocomposites with different TiO(2) grain sizes are obtained by using different thermal treatments. The two types of Cu/TiO(2) nanocomposites show much enhanced rate performances compared with bare TiO(2). A high-rate capability (reversible capacity at 7500 mA g(-1) still accounts for 58% of its initial capacity at 50 mA g(-1)) is observed for the Cu/TiO(2) nanocomposite with smaller TiO(2) grain size. The improvements can be attributed to the integrated Cu nanowires as mechanical supports and efficient current collectors. A cell made from the Cu/TiO(2) nanoarchitectured electrodes exhibits promise as an energy storage device with both high energy and high power densities.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China.
authors.forename: Fei-Fei
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Yu-Guo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Li-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004566:Electrodes; D008094:Lithium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D003300:Copper; D008094:Lithium; D014025:Titanium