Synthesis and optimizable electrochemical performance of reduced graphene oxide wrapped mesoporous TiO2 microspheres

Abstract

A facile microwave solvothermal process is developed to prepare an anatase TiO₂ anode material that maintains multiple properties including high surface area, high crystallinity, uniform mesoporous, perfect microspheres and uniform particle size. Using this fine anatase TiO₂ product, a TiO₂/RGO (RGO: reduced graphene oxide) hybrid material is prepared under UV-light irradiation. Incorporation of RGO improves the electrochemical kinetics of the TiO₂ microspheres, which results in superior electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacity, rate capability and cycle stability. The material shows a discharge capacity of 155.8 mA h g⁻¹ at the 5 C rate. Even at the 60 C rate, a high discharge capacity of 83.6 mA h g⁻¹ is still obtained which is two times higher than that of pristine mesoporous TiO₂.