Can the calcination products of the mixture containing TiO2 and CuCl be utilized as anode materials of lithium ions batteries (LIBs)？

For the first time, it is discovered that the calcination products of the mixture containing titanium dioxide (TiO2) and cuprous chloride (CuCl) were a novel kind of anode materials of LIBs. Herein, a mixture containing TiO2 and CuCl with a Ti/Cu mole ratio of 2:1 was calcined at different temperatures in air to harvest the samples. The samples sintered at 350°C, 400°C and 450°C were respectively classified as sample a, b and c. As analyzed, TiO2, CuO and CuCl2 were the principal components of all resultant samples. Interestingly, as compared to the pure TiO2, all prepared samples, especially sample b, delivered a markedly enhanced electrochemical property. For instance, the initial DC (discharge capacity) of sample b at 0.1 A g-1 was 487 mAh g-1, being much better than that of sample a, c and the pure TiO2 (sample o). Impressively, the DC value of sample b was around 101 mAh g-1 at 1.0 A g-1 after 100 cycles, which, respectively, was about 1.5, 2.0 and 5.3 times that of sample a (66 mAh g-1), c (49 mAh g-1) and o (19 mAh g-1). After a thorough investigation, the reduced Rct and the evidently increased DLi+ were considered as the main causes providing all samples, especially sample b, a satisfied electrochemical performance. To summarize, the electrochemical properties of all as-produced samples were better than that of the pure TiO2. That is, a groundbreaking concept, that using a calcination product containing TiO2, CuO and CuCl2 rather than a pure substance as the anode materials of LIBs, was developed here.