Electrochemically directed synthesis of TiC nanotube arrays for aqueous zinc-ion batteries†

Nano-TiC is a support material with outstanding electrical conductivity and mechanical stability. However, synthesizing TiC with specific nanostructures at lower temperatures remains a challenge. This paper proposed a novel strategy to achieve accurate inheritance of nanomorphology from TiO₂ to TiC through low-temperature (600 °C) molten salt electrolysis. Herein, the stability of the nanomorphology of TiO₂ nanotube array (TiO₂ NTA) precursors in molten salts is improved and local defects in TiC nanotube array (TiC NTA) products are eliminated, achieving accurate inheritance of nanomorphology on a large scale. Furthermore, this general method demonstrates excellent application potential to produce various nanostructures, including spaced TiC NTAs, TiC nanowire arrays, TiC nanosheet arrays, and TiO₂ NTAs with rich oxygen vacancies. Additionally, uniformly encircled spaced TiC NTAs were synthesized on titanium fiber felt. These spaced TiC NTAs can provide more active loading sites and facilitate smoother electron/ion transport pathways when used as a MnO₂ support material. These properties can effectively improve the kinetic performance of the whole electrode. This stable inheritance behavior of nanomorphology from oxides to carbides may open new avenues for the synthesis of nanometal carbides and further stimulate their potential for applications in energy storage and conversion.