Synthesis and electrochemical properties of porous tubular TiN powders prepared via ammonia reduction nitridation of nonhydrolytic TiO₂ powders

Abstract

Porous tubular TiO₂ powders were prepared first via a novel facile and non-template route of the nonhydrolytic sol–gel method. The as-prepared TiO₂ powders could then be directly converted into porous tubular TiN powders through an ammonia reduction nitridation process. The results indicated that the obtained TiO₂ powders consisted of a pure, well-crystallized anatase TiO₂ phase of porous tubular morphology, with a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area of 39 m²/g and an average pore size of 11 nm and pore volume of 0.012 cm³/g. After the porous tubular TiO₂ powders were calcined at 800°C for 2 h under an ammonia (NH₃) gas atmosphere, TiN powders maintaining their porous tubular architecture were obtained, with a BET specific surface area of 35 m²/g and an average pore size and pore volume of 12 nm and 0.096 cm³/g, respectively. The electrochemical performance of the porous tubular TiN powders demonstrated that TiN powders could be a promising electrode material for supercapacitors.