Preparation and physico-chemical investigation of anatase TiO2 nanotubes for a stable anode of lithium-ion battery

Ab-initio, anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes were prepared from pristine anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles via a low temperature modified stirring-hydrothermal technique. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) characterization of the as-synthesized sample depicted uniformly distributed one-dimensional nanotubular morphology, with an average length, thickness and diameter of ∼4μm, 17 nm and 20 nm, respectively. N2 physisorption of the sample revealed two distinct peaks at mesopore and macropore scales of 3 nm and 100 nm, respectively. The specific surface area of the materials was observed to have increased from 8 m2 g−1 for the pristine to 62 m2 g−1 for the nanotubes. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated a tetragonal symmetry for the anatase TiO2nanotubes sample, which is similar to those reported in the literature. Core levels and elemental analyses showed the presence of titanium and oxygen in good proportion. Electrochemical performances of the TiO2nanotubes electrode offered good cyclic stability, good rate capability and a fairly large capacity of 160 mA h g−1 at a specific current of 36 mA g−1.