High performance sodium storage of Fe-doped mesoporous anatase TiO2/amorphous carbon composite

Fe-doped mesoporous anatase TiO 2 /amorphous carbon composites (FC–TiO 2 ) are synthesized by a wet chemistry process. With Fe-doping concentration increasing, the microstructures of FC-TiO 2 change from prism to nanoparticle , and finally turns block structure. When used as anode materials for sodium ion batteries, the FC-TiO 2 electrodes exhibit a maximum capacity of 304 mA h g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 after 50 cycles with good rate capability (198 mA h g −1 at 2 A g −1 ). Three synergic effects can be attributed to the improved electrochemical performance of FC-TiO 2 : (1) the high iron doping could largely narrow the band gap and restrain the growth of TiO 2 crystallite ; (2) the carbon coating offers a beneficial conductivity environment; (3) the porous structure can shorten the electronic sodium ion pathway during cycling. Moreover, this synthesis method is very easy for mass production. Therefore, FC-TiO 2 should be an attractive and promising candidate for anode material of SIBs.