Structurally and electronically designed TiO2Nx nanofibers for lithium rechargeable batteries

The morphology and electronic structure of metal oxides, including TiO 2 on the nanoscale, definitely determine their electronic or electrochemical properties, especially those relevant to application in energy devices. For this purpose, a concept for controlling the morphology and electrical conductivity in TiO2, based on tuning by electrospinning, is proposed. We found that the 1D TiO2 nanofibers surprisingly gave higher cyclic retention than 0D nanopowder, and nitrogen doping in the form of TiO2Nx also caused further improvement. This is due to higher conductivity and faster Li+ diffusion, as confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectra. Our findings provide an effective and scalable solution for energy storage efficiency. © 2013 American Chemical Society.