Nature-Inspired Na2Ti3O7 Nanosheets-Formed Three-Dimensional Microflowers Architecture as a High-Performance Anode Material for Rechargeable Sodium-Ion Batteries

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces 2017-04, Vol.9 (13), p.11669-11677
• Main Authors: Anwer, Shoaib, Huang, Yongxin, liu, Jia, Liu, Jiajia, Xu, Meng, Wang, Ziheng, Chen, Renjie, Zhang, Jiatao, Wu, Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b01519

Low cycling stability and poor rate performance are two of the distinctive drawbacks of most electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Here, inspired by natural flower structures, we take advantage of the three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical flower-like stable microstructures formed by two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets to solve these problems. By precise control of the hydrothermal synthesis conditions, a novel three-dimensional (3D) flower-like architecture consisting of 2D Na2Ti3O7 nanosheets (Na-TNSs) has been successfully synthesized. The arbitrarily arranged but closely interlinked thin nanosheets in carnation-shaped 3D Na2Ti3O7 microflowers (Na-TMFs) originate a good network of electrically conductive paths in an electrode. Thus, Na-TMFs can get electrons from all directions and be fully utilized for sodium-ion insertion and extraction reactions, which can improve sodium storage properties with enhanced rate capability and super cycling performance. Furthermore, the large specific surface area provides a high capacity, which can be ascribed to the pseudo-capacitance effect. The wettability of the electrolyte was also improved by the porous and crumpled structure. The remarkably improved cycling performance and rate capability of Na-TMFs make a captivating case for its development as an advanced anode material for SIBs.