Aerosol synthesis of trivalent titanium doped titania/carbon composite microspheres with superior sodium storage performance

Trivalent titanium doped titania/carbon (TiO2-x /C) composite microspheres have been prepared by a facile aerosol method (ultrasonic spray pyrolysis) using titanium (IV) bis(ammonium lactato)dihydroxide (TiBALDH) as the sole precursor. The obtained TiO2-x /C microspheres have particle sizes in the range of 400-1,000 nm. When evaluated as anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), they provide a high reversible capacity of 286 mA center dot h center dot g(-1) with good cycling performance. A capacity of 249 mA center dot h center dot g(-1) can be achieved after 180 cycles at 50 mA center dot g(-1), which is more than three times higher than that of white TiO2 microspheres (77 mA center dot h center dot g(-1)). The superior sodium storage performance of these TiO2-x /C composite microspheres can be attributed to the simultaneous introduction of Ti3+ and oxygen vacancies, ultrafine grain size, as well as the conductive carbon matrix. This study provides a facile and effective approach for the production of TiO2-x /C nanocomposites with superior sodium storage performance.