Composite sodium p-toluenesulfonate/polypyrrole/TiO2 nanotubes/Ti anode for sodium ion battery

Composite sodium p-toluenesulfonate/polypyrrole/TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti was designed and synthesized for sodium ion battery anode via facile electrochemical methods. The obtained composite sodium p-toluenesulfonate/polypyrrole/TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti (TsONa/PPy/TiO₂NT/Ti) electrode was investigated in terms of SEM, EDX, FTIR, galvanostatic charge/discharge and AC impedance. As expected, the composite TsONa/PPy/TiO₂NT/Ti electrode displayed higher electrochemical performances than the bare TiO₂NT/Ti electrode. For example, the reversible capacity after 50 cycles was still as high as about 200 mAh/g, higher than 170 mAh/g of TiO₂NT/Ti electrode. High Na-storage activities of both TiO₂NT and TsONa/PPy, high conductivity of TsONa-doped PPy and the synergy effect among the various components may be responsible for the improved electrochemical performances.