One-dimensional hierarchical structures composed of novel metal oxide nanosheets on a carbon nanotube backbone and their lithium-storage properties

Some facile solution methods are developed to directly grow anatase TiO 2 nanosheets with exposed (001) facets and SnO₂ nanosheets onto a carbon nanotube backbone for the first time. TiO₂ nanosheets can also be grown on SnO₂@CNT coaxial nanocables. An electrochemical investigation shows that these unique one-dimensional hierarchical nanostructures exhibit significantly enhanced lithium-storage properties under different testing conditions by comparison to the pure metal oxide counterparts, and evidently suggests that improved electrochemical properties of TiO ₂ and SnO₂ can be achieved through proper design of the nanostructure and chemical composition.