Enhanced cycling performance and rate capacity of SiO anode material by compositing with monoclinic TiO2 (B)

Silicon monoxide (SiO) is regarded as a great potential anode material for high-energy lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to the high theoretical specific capacity (2650 mAh g −1 ), low voltage platform, eco-friendly and rich reserves. However, the particle pulverization , induced by large volume change during (de)lithiation, can result in the capacity degrading significantly. As we all know, it is a good strategy that using TiO 2 to modify the SiO-based anode. TiO 2 can serve as rigid outer layer to keep the structural integrity. In addition, the electrochemical performances of monoclinic TiO 2 (B) are better than anatase and rutile TiO 2 . Therefore, compositing with TiO 2 (B) is an admissible method to enhance the electrochemical properties of SiO-based materials. And the pretreated-SiO/TiO 2 (B) composites (abbreviated as p-STB) are prepared by hydrothermal treatment at 180 °C for 12 h and then calcined at 325 °C for 2 h. In this paper, p-STB-1 and p-STB-2 are prepared that the weight ratios p-SiO and TiO 2 (B) are 4:1 and 3:1, respectively. The structure and components of composites are also performed on X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared reflectance (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For p-STB, TiO 2 (B) is mainly covered on the surface of pretreated SiO (p-SiO). The Li-ion diffusion coefficients of as-prepared materials are calculated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy . The electrochemical test results suggest that the p-STB-1 has batter cycling performance (730 mAh g −1 after 100th cycle) and admirable rate capacity (450 mAh g −1 under 3.2 A g −1 ). The modified method, which was compositing with TiO 2 (B), is beneficial to the commercialization of SiO-based materials.