Binder-free combination of amorphous TiO2 nanotube arrays with highly conductive Cu bridges for lithium ion battery anode

Binder-free combination of highly conductive Cu bridges with amorphous TiO2 nanotube arrays for lithium ion battery anode were designed and achieved via one-step facile electrodeposition. The obtained composite Cu/TiO2 nanotubes electrode was studied in terms of XRD, SEM, EDX, galvanostatic charge/discharge, cycle stability, rate performance, and AC impedance. As expected, the composite electrode delivered higher discharge capacity, rate performance, and cycle stability than the bare one, possibly due to improved electrical conductivity and the synergy effect between conductive Cu bridges and amorphous TiO2 nanotube arrays.