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Electrochemically in situ formed rocksalt phase in titanium dioxide determines pseudocapacitive sodium-ion storage

Author

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  • Dafu Tang

    (Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

  • Ruohan Yu

    (Wuhan University of Technology)

  • Yalong Jiang

    (Wuhan Textile University)

  • Jiantao Li

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Zerui Yan

    (Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

  • Sicheng Fan

    (Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

  • Xiaojuan Huang

    (Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

  • Sungsik Lee

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Tianyi Li

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Qingshui Xie

    (Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

  • Liqiang Mai

    (Wuhan University of Technology)

  • Dong-Liang Peng

    (Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

  • Qiulong Wei

    (Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

Abstract

Earth-abundant TiO2 is a promising negative electrode for low-cost sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to its high capacity, rapid (dis)charging capability, safe operation potential and nonflammability. Crystalline anatase TiO2 is not suitable for reversible Na+ (de)intercalation, but it displays pseudocapacitive response after repeated cycles. Herein, we find and demonstrate that ordered rocksalt (RS) NaTiO2 nanograins are in situ formed by electrochemically cycling with Na+ ions in anatase and amorphous TiO2. The in situ formed RS-NaTiO2 follows a solid-solution reaction with small volume changes of only 2.0%, that determines the pseudocapacitive “mirror-like” cyclic voltammetry curve with a couple of broad redox peaks at 0.75 V vs. Na+/Na, a high capacity of 253 mAh g−1, high-rate capability and thousands of stable cycles. The multistep crystalline-to-amorphous-to-RS transformations are able to be electrochemically activated during the aging process of assembled full cells. Our finding provides a direction for developing unconventional Ti-based high-performance active materials for SIBs with both high energy and power densities.

Suggested Citation

  • Dafu Tang & Ruohan Yu & Yalong Jiang & Jiantao Li & Zerui Yan & Sicheng Fan & Xiaojuan Huang & Sungsik Lee & Tianyi Li & Qingshui Xie & Liqiang Mai & Dong-Liang Peng & Qiulong Wei, 2025. "Electrochemically in situ formed rocksalt phase in titanium dioxide determines pseudocapacitive sodium-ion storage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57310-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57310-x
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