title: Phase stability frustration on ultra-nanosized anatase TiO2.
abstract: This work sheds light on the exceptional robustness of anatase TiO2 when it is downsized to an extreme value of 4 nm. Since at this size the surface contribution to the volume becomes predominant, it turns out that the material becomes significantly resistant against particles coarsening with temperature, entailing a significant delay in the anatase to rutile phase transition, prolonging up to 1000 °C in air. A noticeable alteration of the phase stability diagram with lithium insertion is also experienced. Lithium insertion in such nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 converts into a complete solid solution until almost Li1TiO2, a composition at which the tetragonal to orthorhombic transition takes place without the formation of the emblematic and unwished rock salt Li1TiO2 phase. Consequently, excellent reversibility in the electrochemical process is experienced in the whole portion of lithium content.
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, CNRS UMR 7314, 33 rue Saint Leu, 80039 Amiens, France [2] Réseau sur le Stockage Electrochimique de l'Energie (RS2E), FR CNRS 3459, France.
authors.forename: Snehangshu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patra
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, CNRS UMR 7314, 33 rue Saint Leu, 80039 Amiens, France [2] Réseau sur le Stockage Electrochimique de l'Energie (RS2E), FR CNRS 3459, France.
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davoisne
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 33 rue Saint Leu, 80039 Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Houssny
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouyanfif
authors.affiliation: 1] Réseau sur le Stockage Electrochimique de l'Energie (RS2E), FR CNRS 3459, France [2] IPREM/ECP (CNRS UMR5254), University of Pau, Helioparc, 2 Av. Pierre Angot, 64053 Pau Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foix
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, CNRS UMR 7314, 33 rue Saint Leu, 80039 Amiens, France [2] Réseau sur le Stockage Electrochimique de l'Energie (RS2E), FR CNRS 3459, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sauvage