Self-Assembly Approach for Synthesis of Nanotubular Molybdenum Trioxide/Titania Composite Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

A nanotubular composite composed of titania nanotubes coated with a thin layer of molybdenum trioxide was fabricated by employing natural cellulose (ordinary filter paper) as a template. The cellulose nanofibers were precoated with an ultrathin titania gel film by the surface sol-gel process. These nanofibers were then further coated with double layers of a positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) layer and a negatively charged polyoxomolybdate cluster layer deposited by the layer-by-layer self-assembly approach. The as-prepared composite was calcined in air to yield a series of MoO3/TiO2 nanocomposites with varied contents of MoO3. As an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the composite showed improved electrochemical performances, such as excellent reversible capacity, cycling stability, and rate capability; these benefited from the hierarchical three-dimensional nanostructures of the composites derived from the cellulose substance, and the buffering effect of the robust titania nanotubes to maintain the structural integrity of the electrode.