Supporting Information

Inward growth of superthin TiC skin on carbon nanotube framework as

stable cathode support for Li-O2 batteries

Table of contentFigure S1. (a) Cs-corrected HRTEM image of TiC/MWNTs of sample II, (b) Cs-corrected HRTEM

image of TiC/MWNTs for EDS line scan (c) confirmation of the TiC/MWNTs structure given by the

EDS line scan along with (b).....................................................................................................................4

Figure S2. (a) XRD pattern of TiC/MWNTs and TiO2/MWNT comes from the TiC/MWNTs heating at

350 for 30 min in air, (b) First discharge and charge curve of Li-O℃ 2 battery under a capacity

limitation of 1000 mAh g-1 and voltage range of 2.3–4.0 V with TiC/MWNTs or TiO2/MWNTs

cathode.......................................................................................................................................................5

Figure S3. HRTEM images of (a) TiC/MWNTs and (b) its local zoom. The inset in (b) shows the

corresponding FFT transformation of TiC/MWNTs.................................................................................6

Figure S4. C1s XPS spectra of (from top to bottom) pristine, 1st charge and 10th charge status of

MWNTs cathodes (a-c) and TiC/MWNTs cathodes (d–f)........................................................................7

Figure S5. TEM image of sample II of TiC/MWNTs...............................................................................8

Figure S6. (a) First cycle performance of TiC/MWNTs and MWNTs at 250 mA g-1, (b) CV curves of

Li-O2 battery with TiC/MWNTs and MWNTs cathode at a constant scan rate of 0.1 mV s−1..................9

Figure S7. The impedance spectra of Li-O2 battery with MWNTs, TiC, and TiC/MWNTs cathode.....10

Figure S8. Ru 3p XPS spectra of the TiC/MWNTs-Ru...........................................................................11

Figure S9. First discharge and charge curve of Li-O2 battery under a capacity limitation of 1000 mAh g-

1 with TiC/MWNTs-Ru or TiC/MWNTs cathode...................................................................................12

Figure S10. (a) CV curves of Li-O2 battery with TiC/MWNTs-Ru cathode at a constant scan rate of 0.5

mV s−1, (b) CVs of Li-O2 battery with MWNTs-Ru (0.5 mV s−1)...........................................................13

Figure S11. XRD spectrums of discharge, charge, and pristine TiC/MWNTs-Ru cathode....................14

Figure S12. Li 1s XPS spectra of TiC/MWNTs-Ru cathodes after the (a) 1st discharge and (c) 20th

discharge and (e) 50th discharge, and the corresponding SEM images after the (b) 1st discharge, (d)

20th discharge and (f) 50th discharge......................................................................................................15

Figure S13. SEM images of discharge product morphology of MWNTs-Ru after the first cycle..........16

Figure S14. SEM images of cathode morphology after 50th of Li-O2 battery with (a) MWNTs-Ru

cathode and (b) TiC/MWNTs-Ru cathode...............................................................................................17

Figure S15. (a) XRD pattern of TiC/Graphene produced at condition: 560oC (20 h), 650oC (20 h), (b)

SEM image of TiC/Graphene, (c) EDS data of TiC/Graphene, (d) XRD pattern of TiC/KB produced at

condition: 560oC (20 h), 650oC (20 h), (e) TEM image of TiC/KB, (f) HRTEM image of TiC/KB......18

Table S1...................................................................................................................................................19

Figure S1. (a) Cs-corrected HRTEM image of TiC/MWNTs of sample II, (b) Cs-corrected HRTEM

image of TiC/MWNTs for EDS line scan (c) confirmation of the TiC/MWNTs structure given by the

EDS line scan along with (b).

Figure S2. (a) XRD pattern of TiC/MWNTs and TiO2/MWNT comes from the TiC/MWNTs heating at

350 for 30 min in air, (b) First discharge and charge curve of Li-O℃ 2 battery under a capacity

limitation of 1000 mAh g-1 and voltage range of 2.3–4.0 V with TiC/MWNTs or TiO2/MWNTs cathode.

Figure S3. HRTEM images of (a) TiC/MWNTs and (b) its local zoom. The inset in (b) shows the

corresponding FFT transformation of TiC/MWNTs.

Figure S4. C1s XPS spectra of (from top to bottom) pristine, 1st charge and 10th charge status of

MWNTs cathodes (a-c) and TiC/MWNTs cathodes (d–f).

Figure S5. TEM image of sample II of TiC/MWNTs.

Figure S6. (a) First cycle performance of TiC/MWNTs and MWNTs at 250 mA g-1, (b) CV curves of

Li-O2 battery with TiC/MWNTs and MWNTs cathode at a constant scan rate of 0.1 mV s−1.

Figure S7. The impedance spectra of Li-O2 battery with MWNTs, TiC, and TiC/MWNTs cathode.

Figure S8. Ru 3p XPS spectra of the TiC/MWNTs-Ru.

Figure S9. First discharge and charge curve of Li-O2 battery under a capacity limitation of 1000 mAh

g-1 with TiC/MWNTs-Ru or TiC/MWNTs cathode.

Figure S10. (a) CV curves of Li-O2 battery with TiC/MWNTs-Ru cathode at a constant scan rate of 0.5

mV s−1, (b) CVs of Li-O2 battery with MWNTs-Ru (0.5 mV s−1).

Figure S11. XRD spectrums of discharge, charge, and pristine TiC/MWNTs-Ru cathode.

Figure S12. Li 1s XPS spectra of TiC/MWNTs-Ru cathodes after the (a) 1st discharge and (c) 20th

discharge and (e) 50th discharge, and the corresponding SEM images after the (b) 1st discharge, (d)

20th discharge and (f) 50th discharge.

Figure S13. SEM images of discharge product morphology of MWNTs-Ru after the first cycle.

Figure S14. SEM images of cathode morphology after 50th of Li-O2 battery with (a) MWNTs-Ru

cathode and (b) TiC/MWNTs-Ru cathode.

Figure S15. (a) XRD pattern of TiC/Graphene produced at condition: 560oC (20 h), 650oC (20 h), (b)

SEM image of TiC/Graphene, (c) EDS data of TiC/Graphene, (d) XRD pattern of TiC/KB produced at

condition: 560oC (20 h), 650oC (20 h), (e) TEM image of TiC/KB, (f) HRTEM image of TiC/KB.

Table S1

ICP-MS results of three TiC/MWNTs samples.

Sample I Sample II Sample III

Contents of titanium 8.4% 54.4% 78%

Contents of elemental carbon 89.5% 32% 2.4%