TiO₂-entrained tubular carbon nanofiber and its electrochemical properties in the rechargeable Na-ion battery system

Well-defined "peapod" nano-carbon structure of TiO₂ nanoparticles entrained tubular carbon nanofiber with nano-gate channels (TNG-TCNF) was first designed and fabricated through the simple low-temperature impregnation of titanium tetrachloride to tubular carbon nanofiber with nano-gate channels (NG-TCNF) for the application as an effective anode material for Na-ion batteries. Many nano-gated channels on the NG-TCNF walls effectively facilitated the deposition of TiO₂ nanoparticles inside its tube. The maximum entrained mass ratio of the TiO₂ nanoparticles in the NG-TCNF was evaluated to 35 wt%. The prepared TiO₂ entrained NG-TCNF exhibited remarkable discharge capacity of 120 mAh/g as anode for Na-ion battery with a relatively stable cycle-ability compared to those of bare TiO₂, confirming the effective role of gateway for charge/discharge of Na ions.