Microwaves as a synthetic route for preparing electrochemically active TiO2 nanoparticles
Journal article, 2013

Nanocrystalline anatase was synthesized, using both domestic and laboratory microwave ovens, from different precursors. Nanoparticulate anatase was obtained after microwave irradiation of tetra-butyl orthotitanate solution in benzyl alcohol. As-synthesized samples have orange color due to the presence of organics that were eliminated after annealing at 500 degrees C, whereas the size of small anatase nanocrystals (around 8 nm) was preserved. Other nanocrystalline anatase samples were obtained from hexafluorotitanate-organic salt ionic liquid-like precursors. In this case, use of a domestic microwave oven and very short processing times (1-3 min irradiation time) were involved. Good specific capacity values and capacity retention at high C rates for insertion/deinsertion of Li+ were recorded when testing such nanoparticles as electrode material in lithium cells. The electrochemical performances were found be strongly dependent on the phase composition, which in turn could be tuned through the synthetic procedure.

versatile reaction system

storage properties

lithium-ion battery

titanium-dioxide

benzyl alcohol

assisted synthesis

low-temperature

powder

oxide nanoparticles

diffraction

facile synthesis

Author

Damien Monti

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Condensed Matter Physics

A. Ponrouch

Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

M. Estruga

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)

M. R. Palacin

Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

J. A. Ayllon

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)

A. Roig

Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

Journal of Materials Research

0884-2914 (ISSN) 20445326 (eISSN)

Vol. 28 3 340-347

Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)

Materials Engineering

DOI

10.1557/jmr.2012.289

More information

Latest update

3/9/2025 1