Carbon-Coated Mesoporous TiO₂ Nanocrystals Grown on Graphene for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Graphene-based hybrids have been well studied as advanced catalysts and high-performance electrode materials. In this Article, we have fabricated a novel graphene@mesoporous TiO2 nanocrystals@carbon nanosheet by a simple one-step solvothermal method. We have found that titanocene dichloride can act as an extraordinary source with multiple roles for forming TiO2 nanocrystals, ultrathin carbon outer shells, and cross-linkers to binding TiO2 nanocrystals on graphene surface. Moreover, it also serves as a controlling agent to produce mesoporous structure on TiO2 nanocrystals. The loading-concentration of mesoporous TiO2 nanocrystals on graphene sheets can be well controlled by adjusting the initial content of titanocene dichloride. The as-obtained graphene@mTiO2@carbon nanosheets possess a uniform sandwich-like structure, highly crystalline mesoporous TiO2 nanocrystals, a high surface area of ∼209 m(2)/g, and a large pore volume of ∼0.68 cm(3) g(-1). When used as anodes for LIBs, the resultant nanosheets show a high reversible capacity (∼145 mAh/g), good rate capability, and long cycling life (capacity remains 110 mAh/g after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.2 A/g). We believe that our method represents a new path way to synthesize novel nanostructured graphene-based hybrids for future applications.