Titanium niobium oxide

Titanium niobium oxide (TNO), also called titanium niobate or niobium titanium oxide, is a high-performance anode material tailored for advanced lithium-ion batteries. TNO is a ceramic material with the chemical composition TiNb₂O₇ that adopts a monoclinic crystal structure. Interstitial gaps between NbO6 and TiO6 octahedrons accommodate lithium intercalation/deintercalation with low volume expansion of only ~7%. The insertion/deinsertion potential is between 1.0-2.5V with a nominal voltage around 1.6V. Our TNO material takes the form of a white powder, with a particle size of 3-6 μm (D50) and surface area of 1-2 m²/g, which is optimized for battery applications. It is uncoated to allow the user to experiment with coating and compositing methods, which are needed to improve the rate capability. As a battery-grade material, TNO ensures high purity and consistent performance, making it an excellent choice for research applications.

Titanium niobium oxide (TNO) is primarily employed as an anode material in lithium-ion battery research, offering improvements over traditional materials. Our TNO can achieve a first cycle capacity of 255 mAh/g at 0.1C with a first cycle efficiency greater than 85%. In comparison to Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO), which has a maximum capacity of 175 mAh/g, TNO offers a higher discharge capacity and efficiency. Additionally, TNO’s higher working voltage mitigates the risk of lithium dendrite formation during fast charging, enhancing safety and reliability. This makes TNO particularly advantageous for applications requiring high power, such as electric vehicles and portable electronics. By integrating TNO into lithium-ion batteries, researchers can develop faster-charging, longer-lasting, and safer energy storage systems, contributing to the advancement of next-generation battery technologies.