Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a nanotubular titania substrate having a titanium dioxide surface comprised of a plurality of vertically oriented titanium dioxide nanotubes containing oxygen vacancies. The method generally comprises the steps of anodizing a titanium metal substrate in an acidified fluoride electrolyte under conditions sufficient to form a titanium oxide surface comprised of self-ordered titanium oxide nanotubes, dispersing gold nanoparticles onto the titanium oxide surface, annealing the titanium oxide surface with the gold nanoparticles thereon in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and depositing carbon onto the annealed titanium oxide surface. The invention also relates to a hybrid gold/carbon electrode formed by the method.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides oxide nanotubes formed by anodizing and oxidatively-annealing a titanium or titanium allow substrate with or without ultrasonication. If desired, carbon nanotubes may be grown in the oxide nanotubes. The substrates show improved specific capacity and charge-discharge rates for use as an electrode in lithium-ion batteries.