Titanium suboxide (Ti₄O₇) is an inorganic functional material belonging to the Magneli phase family. Its chemical structure endows it with a series of outstanding properties: excellent conductivity, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, strong coloring power and so on. Titanium suboxide can be used as a conductive additive, electrode material, and anti-corrosion coating. Due to its unique physical and chemical properties, it shows broad application prospects in battery making.

Lead-acid batteries achieve 40% weight reduction with significantly enhanced lifespan and capacity

In lead-acid batteries, titanium suboxide is used as a conductive additive. By incorporating it into the lead paste, it effectively addresses the challenge of enhancing the migration speed of current within the paste. Additionally, the current collectors in traditional lead-acid batteries primarily use lead alloy grids. However, this material is dense, heavy, and prone to corrosion during battery operation. 

In contrast, titanium suboxide material offers significant advantages such as light weight, high mechanical strength, chemical stability, and strong corrosion resistance, which substantially enhance the performance of current collectors, opening a new way for the application of lead-acid batteries.

Titanium suboxide also enhances the bonding strength with PbO₂, maintaining pore shape and porosity during charging and discharging cycles. This improves the formability of the cathode active material and increases the utilization rate of the active material. Experiments demonstrate that adding a small amount of titanium suboxide to automotive batteries can increase battery capacity by 15-17%.

More durable than graphite! Enhanced lifespan and capacity

In the field of lithium batteries, titanium suboxide can be used as a cathode conductive additive, replacing traditional Super-P graphite conductive powder. This substitution enhances the conductivity of the cathode material and improves the uniformity of current distribution, increasing the battery's discharge voltage and discharge energy. Preliminary tests indicate a 5% increase in discharge voltage, with corresponding improvements in discharge energy.

In addition, titanium suboxide can serve as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, replacing graphite to reduce capacitance decay caused by charge-discharge cycles, offering high capacity and extended cycle life.

The new favorite in conductive additives

The application of titanium suboxide in new energy batteries is equally noteworthy. For instance, titanium suboxide can be used as electrode and bipolar plate material in vanadium flow batteries, and as electrode material in fuel cells. In zinc-air batteries, its high conductivity and corrosion resistance make titanium suboxide a highly promising electrode and bipolar material.

Titanium suboxide demonstrates broad application potential in battery making due to its outstanding electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and chemical stability. From traditional lead-acid batteries to modern lithium batteries and new energy batteries, titanium suboxide continues to drive progress and innovation in battery technology.