Rapid flame synthesis of internal Mo⁶⁺ doped TiO₂ nanocrystals in situ decorated with highly dispersed MoO₃ clusters for lithium ion storage

The rational design of nanoheterostructured materials has attracted much attention because of its importance for developing highly efficient LIBs. Herein, we have demonstrated that internal Mo⁶⁺ doped TiO₂ nanocrystals in situ decorated with highly dispersed MoO₃ clusters have been realized by a facile and rapid flame spray pyrolysis route for electrochemical energy storage. In such intriguing nanostructures, internal Mo⁶⁺ doping can improve the conductivity of electrode materials and facilitate rapid Li⁺ intercalation and ion transport and the heteroassembly of highly dispersed ultrafine MoO₃ clusters with excellent electrochemical activity endows the TiO₂ with extra Li⁺ ion storage ability as well as incorporates Mo⁶⁺. Thus, the as-prepared nanohybrid electrodes exhibit a high specific capacity and superior rate capability due to the maximum synergetic effect of TiO₂, Mo⁶⁺ and ultrafine MoO₃ clusters. Moreover, the aerosol flame process with a unique temperature gradient opens a new strategy to design novel hybrid materials by the simultaneous doping and heteroassembly engineering for next-generation LIBs.