Mesocrystalline FeTiO₃/TiO₂ nanocomposite anode via topochemical conversion for enhanced lithium storage

Developing high-capacity anode materials is crucial for advancing lithium-ion battery technology. This work reports a novel FeTiO₃/TiO₂ mesocrystal nanocomposite synthesized through a topochemical transformation of protonated layered titanate. The resulting heterostructure exhibits a well-defined mesocrystalline architecture with intimate interfacial contact between the FeTiO₃ and TiO₂ phases. As an anode for lithium-ion batteries, the FeTiO₃/TiO₂ mesocrystalline nanocomposite exhibits a significantly higher specific capacity of about 341 mAh g⁻¹ compared to conventional polycrystalline counterparts (196 mAh g⁻¹). The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to the unique structure, which facilitates efficient ion transport and provides abundant active sites during cycling. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of topochemical design in creating advanced nanocomposite electrode materials with superior energy storage capabilities.