TiO 2 nanoparticles are prepared via sol-gel method using titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) as a precursor under refluxing and controlled pH. It is found that pure anatase phase is obtained with pH 10. Further characterization studies are carried out on pure nanoparticle anatase phase by XRD, SEM, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Their electrochemical performances as anode material in lithium-ion batteries are investigated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic cycling, and rate capability measurements. A high discharge capacity of 321 mAh/g (vs. 335 mAh/g theoretical) is achieved at 1C rate. After the first galvanostatic charge/discharge cycle, voltage profiles show plateaus at 1.75 and 1.95 V versus Li at discharge and charge, respectively. High Coulombic efficiency (>99%) is maintained after 300 cycles, which makes anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method, a very promising material for anode application in lithium rechargeable batteries.

In this work, we will present a new protocol to identify solid matter quickly, and at low cost, by physico-chemical analysis methods. The fast and less expensive methods for identification that we investigate, using principal component analysis (ACP), are hydrogen potential (pH), electrical conductivity, density and solubility.