**Abstract**

With the increased attention on sustainable energy, a novel interest has been generated towards construction of energy storage materials and energy conversion devices at minimum environmental impact. Apart from the various potential applications of titanium dioxide (TiO2), a variety of TiO2 nanostructure (nanoparticles, nanorods, nanoneedles, nanowires, and nanotubes) are being studied as a promising materials in durable active battery materials. The specific features such as high safety, low cost, thermal and chemical stability, and moderate capacity of TiO2 nanomaterial made itself as a most interesting candidate for fulfilling the current demand and understanding the related challenges towards the preparation of effective energy storage system. Many more synthetic approaches have been adapted to design different nanostructures for improving the electronic conductivity of TiO2 by combining with other materials such as carbonaceous materials, conducting polymers, metal oxides etc. The combination can be done through incorporating and doping methods to synthesize TiO2-based anodic materials having more open channels and active sites for lithium and/or sodium ion transportation. The present chapter contained a broad literature and discussion on the synthetic approaches for TiO2-based anodic materials for enhancing the lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs) performance. Based on lithium storage mechanism and role of anodic material, we could conclude on future exploitation development of titania and titania based materials as energy storage materials.

**Keywords:** Titanium Dioxide, Nanomaterial, Nanostructure, Lithium Ion Battery

### **1. Introduction**

Nowadays, investigation in the field of energy storage and conversion devices with different functionalities is emerging subject for many research investigators [1–3]. Since last two decades, the regular efforts are being implemented towards the development of nanostructured as electrochemical storage materials convenient to access both surface and bulk properties and hence a superior storage and conversion performance. In this view, nanostructured materials are of great interest due to easy availability for modification into degree of crystallinity, phase, particle size, morphology and porosity which are prior characteristics.

As a talk of nanomaterials and nanotechnology, titania (TiO2) and titania-based materials always been studied first. TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are being widely

investigated over the past few decades due to their unique characteristics such as non-toxicity, abundance, thermal and chemical stability, and easy availability. Many more research and progress reports on TiO2 have shown a great potential in various important applications such as photocatalysis, biomedical, environmental remediation and many more. Beyond these applications, TiO2 and TiO2-based nanomaterials also offers novel materials to overcome the energy and environment related challenges. Different TiO2 nanostructures with high surface area, large pore volumes, tunable pore structures and nano-confined effects have been synthesized and used in various fields with excellent performances [4]. In the past, many comprehensive reviews have been documented on synthesis, properties and applications of TiO2 and TiO2-based nanomaterials.

In view of energy storage technologies, recently, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are found to be emerging technologies for imperative electric grid applications such as mobile electronics, electric vehicles and renewable energy systems operating on alternating energy sources like wind, tidal, solar and other clean energy sources [5, 6]. The performance of these technologies in terms of capacity, recyclability and rate capability are much more dependent on the characteristics of the active anode and cathode materials. The performance can be improved through fundamental modification with particular strategy with such factors like the power capacity, long term durability and most prior its cost. In this view of direction, finding of energy storage materials with high efficiency and low cost is thrust challenge for the materials scientists. As we talked about various important characteristics of TiO2, it could be suitable candidate due to its versatile functionalities. The present chapter covering literature on the recent progress of applications of TiO2 and TiO2 based materials as energy storage technologies and discussion on the efforts that have been made so far.

Theoretically, the anode part has a crucial role in LIBs and thus, the direction towards development of anode materials is one of the most essential factors which could define the performance of the device [7]. As an ideal anode material, it should possess high specific surface area allowing better insertion for mobile ions (lithium ions for LIBs); large pore size, low volume change and low internal resistance for speedy charging and discharging; low intercalation potential for mobile ions; and operating at moderate condition with economical and environmental benefits.

Among available various suitable anode materials, transition metal oxides in which TiO2 is following the characteristics of an ideal anode material that makes TiO2 itself as most promising anode material for LIBs. Apart from these benefits and utilities of TiO2, some drawbacks still exist like low capacity and poor rate capability [4, 7]. Thus, TiO2 suffering from poor ionic/electronic conductivity that limits the lithium storage rate. However, the transport of electrons and Li<sup>+</sup> ions can be promoted by engineering of their physicochemical and morphological characteristics as presented in **Figure 1**. In this view, many more researches and efforts have been made to overcome the said disadvantages by designing and adopting different synthetic strategies to obtain various forms of TiO2 such as zero-dimensional (0D) nanospheres, one dimensional (1D) nanostructures, two-dimensional (2D) nanoarchitectures and three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical nanostructures with different electronic structures. These nanostructures are showing the advantages of providing high contact surface area with the electrolyte as well as short diffusion pathways for electrons and mobile ions such as Li<sup>+</sup> and Na<sup>+</sup> . In addition, the adoption like doping of different heteroatoms into TiO2 lattice which could alter the chemical and physical surface of TiO2 would open more channels and active sites for transportation of mobile ions due to which electrical conductivity can be increased [7].

*Titanium Dioxide as Energy Storage Material: A Review on Recent Advancement DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99254*

**Figure 1.** *Synthetic approaches for TiO2 based anode materials.*
