Highly Crystalline TiO2-MoO3Composite Materials Synthesized via a Template-Assisted Microwave Method for Electrochemical Application

TiO2-MoO(3)composite systems were successfully prepared using a template-assisted microwave method at molar ratios TiO2:MoO3= 8:2, 5:5 and 2:8. The synthesized material systems were comprehensively characterized, in terms of their crystalline structure (XRD and Raman spectroscopy), morphology (SEM, TEM and HRTEM analysis) and parameters of the porous structure (low-temperature N(2)sorption). The materials exhibited highly crystalline phases: anatase and hexagonal molybdenum trioxide. Moreover, TEM analysis revealed hexagonal prism particles of MoO(3)and nanocrystalline particles of TiO2. The proposed template-assisted microwave synthesis enabled the incorporation of TiO(2)particles on the surface of hexagonal particles of MoO3, which resulted in a stable junction between titania and molybdenum trioxide. The values of BET surface area were 57, 29 and 11 m(2)/g for samples obtained at molar ratios TiO2:MoO3= 8:2, 5:5 and 2:8 respectively. In electrochemical applications, titanium dioxide plays a crucial role as an intercalation intensifier, in which MoO(3)is responsible for current conduction. Taking account of the potential electrochemical applications, the best system was obtained at the molar ratio TiO2:MoO3= 5:5. The anode could maintain a capacity of 400 mAh/g at current densities in the range 100-1000 mA/g at potential values ranging from 1.00 to 3.30 V vs. Li/Li+. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the effective intercalation of lithium ions into the TiO2-MoO(3)composite materials.