Niobium-Doped Titanium Dioxide with High Dopant Contents for Enhanced Lithium-Ion Storage

Abstract

Titanium dioxide is a promising anode for efficient lithium‐ion storage in terms of low cost, good structural stability, and inherent safety. However, its performance in Li‐ion storage is hindered by poor electronic conductivity. In this work, a solvothermal approach was applied for the synthesis of Nb‐doped TiO2 nanocrystals with Nb content up to 33 at. %. The enhanced electronic conductivity and favorable electrochemical kinetics led to superior specific capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability compared to pristine TiO2. For the optimum dopant content of 21 at. %, a specific capacity of 58 mAh g−1 was reached at 10 A g−1 compared to just 28 mAh g−1 for pure TiO2, in addition to almost 20 % higher capacity retention after prolonged cycling. The strategy in the current work can be easily extended to the design of other high‐performance electrode materials for energy storage.