Rapid construction of TiO2/SiO2 composite film on Ti foil as lithium-ion battery anode by plasma discharge in solution

We employ the plasma discharge phenomenon in an alkaline electrolyte for the rapid construction of a TiO2/SiO2 composite film by a one-step process in 2 min without any heating or post-treatment to obtain a high-capacity anode with an excellent cycling stability for Li-ion batteries. The core temperature of the plasma discharge region fluctuates between 3000 K and 5000 K. The formed oxide film consists of anatase and rutile phases of TiO2 with amorphous SiO2 uniformly distributed on it. The battery performance shows a stable capacity above 400 mAh g−1 at the current density of 100 μA cm−2 due to the porous morphology of the composite film and the enhanced electrochemical reactions by SiO2. This work provides a promising approach for the preparation of Li-ion battery oxide anode materials with high efficiency and low cost.