TiNb2O7 nanowires with high electrochemical performances as anodes for lithium ion batteries

TiNb₂O₇ nanowires (TNS) were synthesized by using a simple sol-gel method combined with subsequent calcination process. As anodes of lithium-ion batteries, TNS exhibit a specific capacity of 199.6 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 0.4 A g⁻¹ and satisfactory coulombic efficiency of 98.7% after 2000 cycles at 5 A g⁻¹. Compared with TiNb₂O₇ nanoparticles (TN), TNS have excellent electrochemical performances due to the 1D materials assembled from uniform and dense TiNb₂O₇ nanoparticles (∼35 nm). The 1D linear structural electrode gathered the merits of tiny nanoparticles, multiple active sites, short electronic transport path and excellent dynamics orientation, which are responsible for the favorable electrochemical properties.