Flexible free-standing hydrogen-treated titanium dioxide nanowire arrays as a high performance anode for lithium ion batteries

Herein, we fabricate flexible free-standing TiO2 nanowire arrays and create Ti3+ (oxygen vacancy) via hydrogenation to improve the electrical conductivity. The hydrogenated-TiO2 nanowires deliver a high reversible capacity of 517 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 1 C. Moreover, the hydrogenated-TiO2 nanowires have an excellent rate performance as they still retain 70 mA h g(-1) when the current density increases to 50 C. The electrochemical performance of the hydrogenated-TiO2 nanowires is due to the improved conductivity of TiO2 nanowires arising from the formation of Ti3+ (oxygen vacancy) via hydrogenation.