Nanostructured Anatase Titania as a Cathode Catalyst for Li–CO2 Batteries

Lithium–carbon dioxide (Li–CO2) batteries have garnered significant interest over the past 5 years as next-generation energy storage devices. In this article, we report a nanocomposite of anatase titania nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs), carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanofibers as a freestanding gas diffusion cathode for Li–CO2 batteries. Nanostructured anatase TiO2 is demonstrated as a low-cost, easy-to-synthesize catalyst for CO2 capture and utilization. With the developed composite electrode, we confirm the successful reversibility of the carbon dioxide reduction reaction and evolution reaction at the cathode and demonstrate improved Li–CO2 cell performance through a variety of materials and electrochemical characterization techniques.