Sb:SnO₂@TiO₂ Heteroepitaxial\nBranched Nanoarchitectures for Li Ion Battery Electrodes

Abstract

High-quality, single-crystalline Sb-doped SnO₂ (ATO)\nnanobelts (NBs) surrounded by very thin and short TiO₂ rutile\nnanorods were synthesized by thermal evaporation followed by chemical\nbath deposition. An epitaxial relationship between ATO NBs and rutile-phase\nTiO₂ nanorods was clearly demonstrated on the basis of\na crystallographic approach through high-resolution transmission electron\nmicroscopy analysis. Furthermore, the ATO@TiO₂ heteronanostructures\nas anodes for Li ion batteries showed enhanced cycling stability and\nsuperior rate capabilities. These improved electrochemical performances\nwere attributed to beneficial geometrical, structural, and doping\neffects such as alleviation of volume expansion, epitaxial growth,\nand high electronic conductivity.