Flexible Three-Dimensional Titanium-Dioxide-Based Hollow Nanoflower Arrays for Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

The flexible three-dimensional hierarchical carbon cloth (CC)/TiO2@ZnO hollow nanoflower arrays are synthesized in a facile two-process, seed-free solvothermal method. This composite nanostructure with a lavender-like shell has a large specific surface area. The mesoporous hollow architecture and the direct contact with the CC current collector impart the as-prepared electrodes an efficient electronic pathway. The electrochemical measurements indicate that the flexible three-dimensional hierarchical CC/TiO2@ZnO hollow nanoflower arrays show high-rate capability, prominent specific capacity, and long-term cyclic performance because of their unique hierarchical structure. Even after 200 cycles at a current density of 200 mA g–1, the capacity retention of the flexible three-dimensional hierarchical CC/TiO2@ZnO hollow nanoflower arrays is still up to 846 mAh g–1. The facile, cost-effective, and scalable fabrication strategy paves a new way for the design of flexible electrodes with high performance.