Lithium intercalation and diffusion in TiO2 nanotubes: a first-principles investigation

Titanium dioxide nanotubes have attracted considerable attention because of their excellent photoelectric and electrochemical performance in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Precise intercalation sites and controllable diffusion paths are very important for the structures and transport properties of TiO2 nanotubes. Based on first-principles calculations, herein, we discuss these parameters. The results indicate that TiO2 nanotubes with 2-coordinate oxygen vacancies could effectively improve the immigration ability of Li ions. The effective diffusion barriers (0.53 eV) between the outer and inner surfaces suggest a potential material for application in Li-ion barriers.