Recent Progress in Understanding Ion Storage in Self-Organized Anodic TiO2 Nanotubes

Self-organized, anodically grown titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes have been readily studied as anode material in various ion batteries. The simple way of nanostructuring via anodization of a Ti metal substrate and the fact that either their nanotubular morphology or bulk structure can be readily adjusted by changing the anodization and/or annealing conditions make them an attractive model anode material. This enables the investigation of different phenomena by selectively changing one specific parameter of the ion insertion mechanism. This review focuses on the recent progress in understanding the ion storage characteristics of anodic self-organized TiO2 nanotubes in Li-, Na-, and Al-ion batteries. Insights into the electrochemical behavior of the anode material as well as methodological approaches are highlighted.