Partial Atomic Disordered Ti2Nb10O29 -x Induced by Joule Thermal Shock for Superior Lithium-Ion Storage.

Nb2O5 is a promising anode for high-power lithium-ion battery, but its relatively dense atomic packing limits Li+ migration capacity exertion. Ti2Nb10O29 with Wadsley-Roth phase with more open crystal structure is considered a promising candidate. However, Ti/Nb atoms prefer to form an ordered arrangement to maintain local charge balance, resulting insufficient Li+ migration and suppressing high-rate performance. Herein, defective Ti2Nb10O29- x anode with partial disordered Ti/Nb arrangement is developed by employing an amorphous precursor combined with Joule thermal shock. The random dispersion of Ti and Nb within the amorphous precursor is maintained to a certain extent during ultra-fast Joule thermal heating (≈500°C s-1) and quenching (≈250°C s-1). Compared to traditional Ti2Nb10O29, the Li+ diffusion coefficient and electronic conductivity of Ti/Nb-disordered Ti2Nb10O29- x are enhanced by tenfold and four orders of magnitude, respectively. As the anode of lithium-ion batteries, the optimal Ti2Nb10O29- x shows an ultra-high capacity of 353 mAh g-1 and an excellent rate capability of 112 mAh g-1 at 150 C, an ultra-long cycling lifespan of 5000 cycles, and a wide operating temperature range from 80°C to -40°C. The performance leap caused by the disordered structure may provide new paradigm for battery materials.