TiO₂‑Coated MoO₃ Nanorods\nfor Lithium/Sodium-Ion Storage

Abstract

Molybdenum\ntrioxide (MoO₃) shows promise as an anode\nmaterial for Li/Na-ion batteries due to its low cost and high capacity.\nHowever, it suffers from poor cycling stability and volume expansion\nduring charging and discharging, which affects its performance. To\novercome these issues, researchers have developed a unique hybrid\ncomposite by coating MoO₃ nanorods with TiO₂, creating MoO₃@TiO₂ core–shell nanorods.\nThe TiO₂ coating significantly improves the composite’s\ncycling stability, rate capability, and overall electrochemical performance\nin Li/Na-ion batteries. The optimized electrode (MoO₃@TiO₂-2) achieves an impressive capacity of 1259.4 mA h g^–1 after 500 cycles at 200 mA g^–1 and a discharge\ncapacity of 693.3 mA h g^–1 after 1000 cycles at\n2000 mA g^–1 in lithium-ion batteries. In sodium-ion\nbatteries, they show high reversible discharge capacities of 499.1\nand 389.3 mA h g^–1 after 500 cycles at 100 and 200\nmA g^–1, respectively. Moreover, even after 1200\ncycles at 2 A g^–1, the electrode retains a capacity\nof 300.2 mA h g^–1. When combined with an NMC₈₁₁ cathode in a full-cell Li-ion battery, the composite exhibits\nexcellent cycling performance, lasting over 150 cycles with a capacity\nof 200 mA h g^–1. This research has significant implications\nfor the development of high-performance rechargeable batteries for\nvarious electrochemical energy applications.