Abstract

Uniformly mesoporous and thermally robust anatase nanorods were produced with quantitative yield by a simple and efficient one-step approach. The mechanism of this process was revealed by insertion of Eu3+ cations from the reaction medium as luminescent probes. The obtained structure displays an unusually high porosity, an active surface area of about 300m(2)g(-1) and a specific capacity of 167mAhg(-1) at a C/3 rate, making it attractive as an anode electrode for Li-ion batteries. An additional attractive feature is its remarkable thermal stability; heating to 400 degrees C results in a decrease in the active surface area to a still relatively high value of 110m(2)g(-1) with conservation of open mesoporosity. Thermal treatment at 800 degrees C or higher, however, causes transformation into a non-porous rutile monolith, as commonly observed with nanoscale titania.

Keywords

anatase; Li-ion battery performance; mesoporous materials; thermal stability; titania

Published in

Chemistry - A European Journal
2013, volume: 19, number: 51, pages: 17439-17444
Publisher: WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

Authors' information