Atomic layer deposition of amorphous oxygen-deficient TiO2-x on carbon nanotubes as cathode materials for lithium-air batteries

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2017-08, Vol.360, p.215-220
• Main Authors: Yang, Jingbo, Ma, Dingtao, Li, Yongliang, Zhang, Peixin, Mi, Hongwei, Deng, Libo, Sun, Lingna, Ren, Xiangzhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic layer deposition; Cathode; Lithium-air battery; Oxygen-deficient; Titanium oxide
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.05.094

The amorphous oxygen-deficient TiO2-x thin layer coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are synthesized by atomic layer deposition and employed as cathode materials for lithium-air battery. The cathode demonstrates high electrocatalytic activity toward electrode reactions, resulting from the introduction of oxygen-deficient TiO2-x into the nanocomposites. It is found that the intrinsically isotropic nature of amorphous TiO2 which a certain amount of Ti3.5+ and Ti3+ can improve the catalytic activity. Consequently, the battery with the corresponded CNT@TiO2-x cathode shows high discharge/charge capacities and good cycling performance, which the cyclic retention of more than 90 cycles are achieved, while with the pristine CNTs only 50 cycles are obtained. This study provides an approach to fabricate cathode materials for lithium-air battery and moreover clarifies the influence of oxygen vacancies of TiO2 on the electrochemical performance. •An amorphous oxygen-deficient TiO2-x thin layer on CNTs was synthesized by ALD.•The CNTs@TiO2-x is employed as cathode material for lithium-air battery.•The cathode shows significant improvement in discharge capacity and durability.•The mechanisms of electrode reactions for CNTs@TiO2-x cathode are proposed.