Branch-leaf structural VS2@C/TiO2 anode for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Heterogeneous materials combine the advantage of each component through the synergy effect to become promising electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Designing heterojunctions with specific structures can better show their electrochemical performance. In this work, we fabricated VS2 nanosheets perpendicular to the C/TiO2 nanotube (VS2@C/TiO2) composite with a "branch-leaf" structure by an electrospinning-carbonization-solvothermal method. Notably, the interior of the C/TiO2 nanotube consists of small-sized TiO2 nanoparticles, which guarantees high electrochemical reactivity. The presence of carbon not only accelerates charge transfer across the interface of carbon-TiO2 but also serves as an anchor for the growth of VS2 nanosheet by C-S-V bonding, thus enhancing the structural stability of the electrode. As anode for LIBs, the VS2@C/TiO2 electrode exhibits a high reversible capacity of 748 mAh g-1 and 324.2 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1 and 1 A g-1, respectively. This work highlights the unique "branch-leaf" design of VS2@C/TiO2, which offers a new prospect for developing high-performance heterogeneous electrodes for LIBs.