Lychee-like TiO(2)@Fe(2)O(3) Core-Shell Nanostructures with Improved Lithium Storage Properties as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

In this study, lychee-like TiO(2)@Fe(2)O(3) microspheres with a core-shell structure have been prepared by coating Fe(2)O(3) on the surface of TiO(2) mesoporous microspheres using the homogeneous precipitation method. The structural and micromorphological characterization of TiO(2)@Fe(2)O(3) microspheres has been carried out using XRD, FE-SEM, and Raman, and the results show that hematite Fe(2)O(3) particles (7.05% of the total mass) are uniformly coated on the surface of anatase TiO(2) microspheres, and the specific surface area of this material is 14.72 m(2) g(−1). The electrochemical performance test results show that after 200 cycles at 0.2 C current density, the specific capacity of TiO(2)@Fe(2)O(3) anode material increases by 219.3% compared with anatase TiO(2), reaching 591.5 mAh g(−1); after 500 cycles at 2 C current density, the discharge specific capacity of TiO(2)@Fe(2)O(3) reaches 273.1 mAh g(−1), and its discharge specific capacity, cycle stability, and multiplicity performance are superior to those of commercial graphite. In comparison with anatase TiO(2) and hematite Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2)@Fe(2)O(3) has higher conductivity and lithium-ion diffusion rate, thereby enhancing its rate performance. The electron density of states (DOS) of TiO(2)@Fe(2)O(3) shows its metallic nature by DFT calculations, revealing the essential reason for the high electronic conductivity of TiO(2)@Fe(2)O(3). This study presents a novel strategy for identifying suitable anode materials for commercial lithium-ion batteries.