Hybrid nanoarchitecture of rutile TiO2 nanoneedle/graphene for advanced lithium-ion batteries

In this paper, rutile TiO 2 nanoneedle/graphene composites with a unique one dimensional/two dimensional (1D/2D) hybrid nanostructure were prepared via a facile hydrothermal route. These obtained rutile TiO 2 nanoneedles with the length of ~   500   nm have a homogeneous dispersion on the interlayers of graphene nanosheets . As the anodic materials, the as-prepared sample exhibited the superior Li storage capability with good cycling stability (over 94% capacity retention) and remarkable rate performance (149   mA   h   g −   1 at a 5   C rate). The improved electrochemical performance can be attributed to the unique microstructure. On the one hand, 1D rutile TiO 2 nanoneedles shorten the length of Li + transport paths to achieve a higher Li + diffusion rate. On the other hand, 2D graphene sheets provide good electronic contacts to reduce the contact resistance, as well as keep the structural integrity of the electrode materials .