In Situ Growth of Cross-Linked Ti2Nb10O29 Nanoparticles on Inner/Outer Surfaces of Carbon Microtubes for High-Efficiency Lithium Storage

Improving electronic and ionic transport and the structural stability of electrode materials is essential for the development of advanced lithium-ion batteries. Despite its great potential as a high-power anode, Ti2Nb10O29(TNO) still underperforms due to its unsatisfactory electronic and ionic conductivity. Here, a TNO/carbon microtube (TNO@CMT) composite is constructed via an ethanol-assisted solvothermal process and controlled annealing. The hollow carbon framework derived from kapok fibers provides a lightweight conductive skeleton and abundant nucleation sites for uniform TNO growth. By tuning precursor concentration, the interfacial structure and loading are precisely regulated, optimizing electron/ion transport. The optimized TNO@CMT-2 exhibits uniformly dispersed TNO nanoparticles anchored on both inner and outer CMT surfaces, enabling rapid electron transfer, short Li+diffusion paths, and high structural stability. Consequently, it delivers a reversible capacity of 314.9 mAh g−1at 0.5 C, retains 75.8% capacity after 1000 cycles at 10 C, and maintains 147.96 mAh g−1at 40 C. Furthermore, the Li+diffusion coefficient of TNO/CMT-2 is 5.4 × 10−11cm2s−1, which is nearly four times higher than that of pure TNO. This work presents a promising approach to designing multi-cation oxide/carbon heterostructures that synergistically enhance charge and ion transport, offering valuable insights for next-generation high-rate lithium-ion batteries.