Spray‐Drying Preparation of TiNb ₂ O ₇ /C Anode with High‐Rate Capability

Fast‐charging capability is crucial for the practical application of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). During fast‐charging process some issues arise like lithium plating and thermal runaway which trigger serious safety problems. Developing high‐rate anode materials makes great sense for fast charging LIB. TiNb 2 O 7 (TNO) with a high theoretical specific capacity (387 mAh g −1 ), safe operating voltage (1–2.9 V vs. Li + /Li), and high ion diffusion coefficient have shown a great promise as high‐rate anode material. However, the poor electron conductivity and laboratory scale preparation severely hinder the practical application for fast charging anode. Here, large‐scale carbon‐coated TNO secondary particles (TNO@C) are successfully prepared via spray drying combined with heat treatment. This hierarchical structure with efficient electron/ion transport pathways lead to fast electrode reaction kinetics and high cycling stability. High specific capacity of 227 mAh g −1 at 2C rate with a capacity retention rate of 89% after 500 cycles is achieved. Even after 1000 cycles at 5C, the capacity retention rate remained as 80%. This study utilizes the industrially scalable spray‐drying technique to realize the hierarchical structure of TNO@C, promoting the practical application as electrode materials.