Facile synthesis of titanium nitride-graphene nanocomposite and its improved rate-dependent electroactivity with respect to lithium storage

Abstract Titanium nitride/graphene nanocomposite as an anode material of lithium ion batteries has been fabricated through the reaction of TiCl 4 and NaN 3 in supercritical benzene medium followed by ammonia treating at 1000 °C for 10 h. The synthesized TiN/G nanocomposite depicts rate-dependent behavior in such a way that it shows specific capacity of 115 mAh g −1 when is cycled at higher rate (1.6 C) while it shows 76 mAh g −1 when is cycled initially at lower rate (0.2 C) and is subsequently subjected to higher rate (1.6 C). Moreover, TiN/G anode demonstrates capacity retention of 112%, 100%, and 70% after 250 cycles at charge/discharge rates of 1.6, 0.7, and 0.2 C, respectively. This unusual behavior can be due to (i) an affected lithiation/delithiation mechanism and consequently stabilized carbon layered structure, and (ii) less solid electrolyte interface formation. Furthermore, the possible mechanisms of this rate-dependent behavior of TiN/G anode are discussed.