Sandwich shelled TiO2@Co3O4@Co3O4/C hollow spheres as anode materials for lithium ion batteries.

A sandwich shelled hollow TiO2@Co3O4@Co3O4/C composite is synthesized by consecutive coating of Co3O4 nanosheets and TiO2 particles on Co3O4/C hollow spheres. The composite delivers an excellent lithium storage performance, maintaining 1081.78 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g-1 and 772.23 mA h g-1 after 300 cycles at 1 A g-1, due to its superior structure combining the advantages of each component with favorable electron-transfer, Li+-diffusion properties, and distinguished stability.