A novel architectured negative electrode based on titania nanotube and iron oxide nanowire composites for Li-ion microbatteries

We report a novel procedure for the fabrication of vertical iron oxide nanowires with quite regular form and diameters ranging between 20 and 150 nm grown from a matrix of self-organized TiO2 nanotubes. The 3 μm thick nanocomposite electrode presented here shows relatively high areal capacities of 468 μAh cm−2 (1st reversible discharge) and 200 μA h cm−2 over 45 cycles at a rate of 25 μA cm−2 (specific capacities of 1190 and 510 mAh g−1, respectively). Additionally, studies performed at kinetics of 6, 12.5, and 50 μA cm−2 suggest that this architectured nanocomposite material reveals excellent electrochemical performance with promising potential applications as nano-architectured negative electrodes for Li-ion microbatteries.