Showing papers on "Coating published in 2010"

Sol–gel-deposited ZnO thin films: A review

Abstract: During the last years, ZnO thin films have been studied extensively due to their potential applications in e.g. piezoelectric and optoelectronic devices or photovoltaic cells. Ordered c-axis orientation of ZnO crystallites is desirable for applications where crystallographic anisotropy is a prerequisite such as for short-wavelength semiconductor diode lasers (SDLs), and piezoelectric surface acoustic wave or acousto-optic devices. Many works were dedicated to c-axis oriented ZnO thin films elaboration and the study of their properties, including physical and chemical methods. For instance, sol–gel processes are particularly well adapted to produce ZnO films in a simple, low-cost and highly controlled way. This review summarizes the main chemical routes used in the sol–gel synthesis of undoped ZnO thin films and highlights the chemical and physical parameters influencing their structural properties. In this process, the ZnO films synthesis includes three principal steps: (i) solution preparation, (ii) coating and (iii) heat treatment. For the first step, the particle formation is discussed including nucleation and growth, particle size, morphology and colloids stability. These three steps involve several parameters such as: (i) nature and concentration of precursor, solvent and additive, and solution aging time, for the chemical system, (ii) coating method, thickness and substrate for the coating step, and (iii) pre-and post-heat treatment for the last step. The influence of these steps and synthesis parameters on ZnO thin films orientation is discussed.

Role of surface coating on cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract: Surface coating of cathode materials has been widely investigated to enhance the life and rate capability of lithium-ion batteries. The surface coating discussed here was divided into three different configurations which are rough coating, core shell structure coating and ultra thin film coating. The mechanism of surface coating in achieving improved cathode performance and strategies to carry out this surface modification is discussed. An outlook on atomic layer deposition for lithium ion battery is also presented.

Coating for Implantable Devices and a Method of Forming the Same

Abstract: Coatings for implantable devices or endoluminal prosthesis, such as stents, are provided, including a method of forming the coatings. The coatings can be used for the delivery of an active ingredient or a combination of active ingredients.

Visualizing Graphene Based Sheets by Fluorescence Quenching Microscopy

Abstract: Graphene based sheets have stimulated great interest due to their superior mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. A general visualization method that allows quick observation of these single atomic layers would be highly desirable as it can greatly facilitate sample evaluation and manipulation, and provide immediate feedback to improve synthesis and processing strategies. Here we report that graphene based sheets can be made highly visible under a fluorescence microscope by quenching the emission from a dye coating, which can be conveniently removed afterward by rinsing without disrupting the sheets. Current imaging techniques for graphene based sheets rely on the use of special substrates. In contrast, the fluorescence quenching mechanism is no longer limited by the type of substrate. Graphene, reduced graphene oxide, or even graphene oxide sheets deposited on arbitrary substrates can now be readily visualized with good contrast for layer counting. Direct observation of suspended sheets in solution was also demonstrated. The fluorescence quenching microscopy offers unprecedented imaging flexibility and could become a general tool for characterizing graphene based materials.

Spectroscopic study of electrolytic plasma and discharging behaviour during the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process

Abstract: In this study, a plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process was used to produce oxide coatings on commercially pure aluminium (1100 alloy) at a pulsed dc power mode. The effects of process parameters (i.e. current density and treatment time) on the plasma discharge behaviour during the PEO treatment were investigated using optical emission spectroscopy (OES) in the visible and near ultraviolet (NUV) band (285–800 nm). The elements present in the plasma were identified. Stark shifts of spectral lines and line intensity ratios were utilized to determine the plasma electron concentrations and temperatures, respectively. The plasma electron temperature profile, coating surface morphology and coating composition were used to interpret the plasma discharging behaviour. The different coating morphologies and compositions at different coating surface regions are explained in terms of three types of discharge, which originate either at the substrate/coating interface, within the upper layer, or at the coating top layer. The high spike peaks on the plasma intensity and temperature profiles corresponded to discharges originated from the substrate/coating interface, while the base line and small fluctuations were due to discharges at the coating/electrolyte interface.

Flame Retardant Behavior of Polyelectrolyte−Clay Thin Film Assemblies on Cotton Fabric

Abstract: Cotton fabric was treated with flame-retardant coatings composed of branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) and sodium montmorillonite (MMT) clay, prepared via layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. Four coating recipes were created by exposing fabric to aqueous solutions of BPEI (pH 7 or 10) and MMT (0.2 or 1 wt %). BPEI pH 10 produces the thickest films, while 1 wt % MMT gives the highest clay loading. Each coating recipe was evaluated at 5 and 20 bilayers. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that coated fabrics left as much as 13% char after heating to 500 °C, nearly 2 orders of magnitude more than uncoated fabric, with less than 4 wt % coming from the coating itself. These coatings also reduced afterglow time in vertical flame tests. Postburn residues of coated fabrics were examined with SEM and revealed that the weave structure and fiber shape in all coated fabrics were preserved. The BPEI pH 7/1 wt % MMT recipe was most effective. Microcombustion calorimeter testing showed that all coated fabrics reduced the total h...

Coating optimization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for high T2 relaxivity.

Abstract: We describe a new method for coating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs) and demonstrate that, by fine-tuning the core size and PEG coating of SPIOs, the T2 relaxivity per particle can be increased by >200-fold. With 14 nm core and PEG1000 coating, SPIOs can have T2 relaxivity of 385 s-1 mM-1, which is among the highest per-Fe atom relaxivities. In vivo tumor imaging results demonstrated the potential of the SPIOs for clinical applications.

Antireflection coating using metamaterials and identification of its mechanism.

Abstract: We present a novel approach of antireflection coating using metamaterials. It dramatically reduces the reflection and greatly enhances the transmission near a specifically designed frequency over a wide range of incidence angles for both transverse magnetic and transverse electric polarizations. A classical interference mechanism is identified through analytical derivations and numerical simulations. It elucidates that the tailored magnitude and phase of waves reflected and transmitted at boundaries of metamaterial coating are responsible for the antireflection.

Metal−Organic Framework Thin Film for Enhanced Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Gas Sensing

Abstract: Despite its high refractive index sensitivity, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy has been generally restricted to large biological analytes. Sensing of smaller molecules is a compelling target for this technique; in particular, LSPR spectroscopy could be utilized to detect hazardous or toxic gases and manage industrial processes involving gaseous chemicals. Here, we report sensing of pure gases over Ag nanoparticles using LSPR spectroscopy, where the detected changes in bulk refractive index are <5 × 10−4 refractive index units (RIU). We further demonstrate a novel strategy for amplifying the sensing signal by coating the plasmonic substrate with a metal−organic framework (MOF) material. Cu3(BTC)2(H2O)3, BTC = benzenetricarboxylate, was grown on Ag nanoparticles using a layer-by-layer method in order to control the MOF thickness, which we show greatly affects the sensor response. Preferential concentration of CO2 within the MOF pores produces a 14-fold signal enhancement for CO2 sens...

Laminated polyester film

Abstract: The present invention provides a laminated polyester film which exhibits a good adhesion property to various adhesives, and can be suitably used in the applications in which a high total light transmittance is required, for example, as a member for protecting a polarizing plate of liquid crystal displays, in particularly, as a protective film disposed on a rear surface of a rear side polarizing plate. The laminated polyester film according to the present invention comprises a polyester film; a coating layer formed by applying a coating solution which comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polyester resin, an acrylic resin and a urethane resin, polyvinyl alcohol and an oxazoline compound, on one surface of the polyester film; and a coating layer formed on the other surface of the polyester film which has an absolute reflectance exhibiting one minimum value in a wavelength range of 300 to 800 nm wherein the minimum value is not more than 3.5%.

Hydrophobic, Antireflective, Self-Cleaning, and Antifogging Sol−Gel Coatings: An Example of Multifunctional Nanostructured Materials for Photovoltaic Cells

Abstract: Antireflective, photocatalytic (self-cleaning), water repellent, and high water-wetting (anti fogging) properties were combined for the first time into a sol−gel coating deposited onto glass substrates. Such an original multifunctional coating was obtained by sol−gel liquid deposition of two successive oxide layers. The first coating is composed of a hybrid methyl-functionalized nanoporous SiO2 material that exhibits high transparency, high water resistance, close to null water adsorption, and fairly high mechanical stability (transversal Young Modulus: 1.5 GPa). Thickness and refractive index can be controlled by selecting proper chemical and processing conditions so as to adjust the antireflectivity properties. The second layer is an ultrathin crystalline TiO2 nanoperforated layer that was deposited on top of the previous antireflective layer. Its thickness and refractive index were adjusted around 12 nm and n ≈ 1.8 respectively. This hard TiO2 top layer acts as a protecting barrier toward mechanical ag...

Clay nanotubes for corrosion inhibitor encapsulation: release control with end stoppers

Abstract: Halloysite clay tubes of 50 nm diameter and ca. 1000 nm length were analyzed as potential nanocontainers for loading, storage and induced sustained release of chemical agents. Halloysite is a natural aluminosilicate mineral with hollow cylindrical geometry and submicron size. Halloysite nanotubes loaded with the corrosion inhibitor benzotriazole can be admixed into paint to improve its anticorrosion performances as well as the coating tensile strength. Corrosion protection of such coating was evaluated by direct exposure of the coated metal (copper) to highly corrosive media. Loading and release characteristics of benzotriazole from these nanotubes were optimized. Benzotriazole release kinetics correspond to the time needed for the formation of a metal protective layer through copper complexation. For formation of the tube end stoppers, benzotriazole loaded halloysite was exposed to the solution of Cu(II) ions, and kinetics of the stopper complex formation was analyzed. Tunable release of benzotriazole was achieved by controlling the strength of the stopper complexes, and the release time may be varied from ten to hundreds of hours. A possibility for the tube on/off release switch was demonstrated.

Hollow silica nanoparticles in UV-visible antireflection coatings for poly(methyl methacrylate) substrates.

Abstract: We have demonstrated the utility of hollow silica nanoparticles in fabricating conformal thin film nanoporous antireflection (AR) coatings on both poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and glass substrates. Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly was successfully used to produce ultrathin AR coatings on planar and textured surfaces. Hollow silica nanoparticles were synthesized to extend the range of apparent refractive indices possible in an AR coating, enabling the design of both single index and graded index AR coatings on PMMA substrates. The diameter and shell thickness of the silica nanoparticles are the two independent, controllable parameters that we manipulated to tune the refractive index of the coating. The AR coatings reduced the minimum reflection of PMMA from 7% to 0.5%, while the maximum transmission increased from 92% to 98% at the optimized wavelength region that could be adjusted from the near UV into the visible. Cross sectional SEM showed that conformal coatings can be achieved on grooved PMMA Fresnel...

Rate capability of graphite materials as negative electrodes in lithium-ion capacitors

Abstract: The lithium-ion exchange rate capability of various commercial graphite materials are evaluated using galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling in a half-cell configuration over a wide range of C-rates (0.1 similar to 60C). The results confirm that graphite is capable of de-intercalating stored charge at high rates, but has a poor intercalating rate capability. Decreasing the graphite coating thickness leads to a limited rate performance improvement of the electrode. Reducing the graphite particle size shows enhanced C-rate capability but with increased irreversible capacity loss (ICL). It is demonstrated that the rate of intercalation of lithium-ions into the graphite is significantly limited compared with the corresponding rate of de-intercalation at high C-rates. For the successful utilisation of commercially available conventional graphite as a negative electrode in a lithium-ion capacitor (LIC), its intercalation rate capability needs to be improved or oversized to accommodate high charge rates.

Preparation of Sol−Gel Films by Dip-Coating in Extreme Conditions

Abstract: Dip-coating of sol−gel solutions is a complex dynamic process that is difficult to model because it is associated with time-dependent evaporation-induced concentration and viscosity gradients in the solution. It is, however, highly used in the coating technology because it is simple and provides excellent reproducibility. Existing fair models have been proposed some decades ago to describe this method, but they are based on Newtonian and nonevaporating liquids and require several important assumptions and simplifications. In this work, we present a simple experimental study of sol−gel film formation by dip-coating, through which we propose a general semiexperimental model to predict the final film thickness. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used as the main technique to obtain the film physical thickness and optical density for various dip-coating processing conditions (withdrawal speeds from 0.01 to 20 mm·s−1 and temperatures from 25 to 60 °C) and for several different chemical solutions (TiCl4, TEOS, and ...

Inorganic–organic sol gel hybrid coatings for corrosion protection of metals

Abstract: Inorganic–organic hybrid coatings by sol–gel process are very suitable for fighting corrosion. Inorganic sols in hybrid coatings not only increase adhesion by forming chemical bonds between metals and hybrid coatings, but also improve comprehensive performances of polymer in the coatings. Different organic polymers or organic functionalities are introduced into gel network to achieve tailored properties, such as hydrophobic properties, increasing cross-linking density, etc. As for corrosion protection of metals organic components of hybrid coatings are selected to repel water and form dense thick films and reduce coating porosity. The factors, such as the ratio of inorganic and organic components, cure temperature, pigments in hybrid coatings, need to be optimized for attaining hybrid films with the maximum corrosion resistance. Electro-deposition technique offers relatively thick homogeneous defect-free hybrid coatings in comparison to dip or spin coating techniques. Green cerium ions and non-ionizable organic inhibitors are more developed in hybrid coatings nowadays than other corrosion inhibitors. Long-term corrosion resistance techniques of inhibitors are discussed. The inhibitors entrapped in the nanocontainers are doped in hybrid films to prolong release of the inhibitors to damaged zones, which is discussed in detail. Among all the nanocontainers of corrosion inhibitors the prospective techniques which show superior corrosion protection are cyclodextrin/organic inhibitor inclusion complexes and layer by layer assembly of organic corrosion inhibitors in nanocontainers. Super-hydrophobic property of hybrid coatings derives from low surface tension and surface roughness of hybrid coatings, which endues the films with excellent corrosion protection for metals, but the durable property of super-hydrophobic coatings needs to be improved for industrial application. An ideal multiple model of hybrid coatings for superior anti-corrosion of metals proposed is a combination of super-hydrophobic hybrid coatings and underlying hybrid coatings doped with sustained release of corrosion inhibitors on metal substrates.

Ni–TiO2 nanocomposite coating with high resistance to corrosion and wear

Abstract: Ni–TiO 2 nanocomposite coatings with various contents of TiO 2 nanoparticles were prepared by electrodeposition in a Ni plating bath containing TiO 2 nanoparticles to be codeposited. The influences of the TiO 2 nanoparticle concentration in the plating bath, the current density and the stirring rate on the composition of nanocomposite coatings were investigated. The composition of coatings was studied by using energy dispersive X-ray system (EDX). The wear behavior of the pure Ni and Ni–TiO 2 nanocomposite coatings were evaluated by a pin-on-disc tribometer. The corrosion performance of coatings in 0.5 M NaCl, 1 M NaOH and 1 M HNO 3 as corrosive solutions was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods (EIS). The microhardness and wear resistance of the nanocomposite coatings increase with increasing of TiO 2 nanoparticle content in the coating. With increasing of TiO 2 nanoparticle content in the coating, the polarization resistance increases, the corrosion current decreases and the corrosion potential shifts to more positive values.

Biofunctionalized phospholipid-capped mesoporous silica nanoshuttles for targeted drug delivery: improved water suspensibility and decreased nonspecific protein binding.

Abstract: A main challenge in nanobiomedicine is the engineering of nanostructures or nanomaterials that can efficiently encapsulate drugs at high load, cross cell membranes, and controllably release their cargo at target sites. Although mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are safe, versatile, and promising carrier materials for targeted drug delivery, their aggregation phenomena under physiological conditions (or salt-containing environments) and their nonspecific binding in protein-containing solutions (or serum) limit their applications in biological science and biomedicine. To address this challenge, we have developed a novel delivery system, termed a nanoshuttle, comprising a nanoscale PEGylated-phospholipid coating and 13-(chlorodimethylsilylmethyl)heptacosane-derivatized MSNs, in which therapeutic or imaging agents may be trapped and ligand-assisted targeted delivery may be achieved through surface functionalization of the phospholipids. As a proof of concept in this study, we selected fluorescein isothio...

Coaxial Electrospinning of Self-Healing Coatings

Abstract: 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag Gm The concept of autonomic materials, such as materials which self-repair without external intervention, is a promising alternative to damage tolerant design. Such materials have the ability to repair themselves without external intervention and recover their functionalities by using the resources inherently embedded within or available to them in the local environment. This is analogous to the biological healing process in living organisms where damage to organs and tissues can be repaired by cellular activity fueled by the nutrients available in the circulatory system. An early example of a synthetic system which self-repaired was demonstrated in 2001; this system consisted of a structural bulk epoxy which contains a microencapsulated healing agent and a suspended solid-phase catalyst. Subsequently, many different types of self-healing systems have been developed including those based on microcapsule dispersions, reversible chemistries, particle segregation, microvascular networks, and hollow fibers. Self-healing coatings are a specific subfield of autonomic materials of particular commercial and scientific interest. There is substantial interest in coating systems that incorporate self-healing technologies to provide autonomic protection of the underlying substrate from environmental exposure after a damage event. Recently, Kumar et al. incorporated microencapsulated tung oil and spar varnish into a commercially available epoxy primer. When a coating containing these microcapsules was damaged, the capsule contents were released into the damaged region and some level of healing was observed. Cho et al. employed a microcapsule-based system to formulate a siloxane-based self-healing coating that demonstrated self-repair and complete protection of the underlying substrate from corrosion, even when damaged under aqueous conditions. In this work, oligomeric reactive siloxanes and a tin catalyst were individually encapsulated and incorporated into various epoxybased coating systems, which were subsequently coated onto cold-rolled steel. Damage to the coating released the siloxane and catalyst into the damaged region; the siloxane then cured, protecting the steel from corrosion. Here, we propose a new approach to self-healing polymer coating systems based on an electrospun coaxial healing agent and demonstrate the effectiveness of such an approach to add autonomic functionality to polymer coatings. Using this approach, liquid materials, such as a healing agent(s) or catalyst–solvent mixture(s), can be encapsulated into a core–shell bead-on-stringmorphology and electrospun onto a substrate. One major advantage of this process is that it utilizes purely physical forces to form the core/sheath structure, thus overcoming the rather serious limitations exhibited by methods that require a minimum emulsion stability for chemical reactions to take place and hold the capsule together. This feature makes it suitable for processing a broader variety of materials for self-healing. Another advantage of this simple one-step coaxial electrospinning encapsulation method is the inherent flexibility in controlling the diameter of the microcapsules and connecting ligaments from the microto nanometer scales. Finally, electrospinning is both a high throughput and selective area technique. Thus, the self-healing functionality can be selectively added to large area substrates in a continuous process under rather mild conditions. Figure 1a presents a schematic illustration of the system for electrospinning the self-healing coating system. It is similar to a conventional electrospinning setup except for the use of a spinneret containing two coaxial capillaries. In a typical procedure, two viscous liquids are simultaneously fed through the inner and outer capillaries, respectively. If the proper combination of liquids and operation conditions are satisfied, a layered Taylor cone can be developed and a coaxial jet can be formed when a high voltage is applied to the outer metallic capillary. The electro-hydro-dynamic forces smoothly stretch the fluid interface to generate coaxial fibers due to the electrostatic repulsion between the accumulated surface charges. A two-part healing agent system was electrospun in two steps onto various substrates, a steel substrate being the most useful experimentally. The electrospun fibers, randomly oriented on the surface, contained either part A or part B liquid polysiloxane precursors (Dow Corning 3-6575) encapsulated in a poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) sheath. As shown in Figure 2, the liquid healing agent is completely encapsulated in beads that are randomly distributed along polymer nanofibers. The as-spun beads exhibit a broad distribution from 2 to 10mm (Fig. 2a). In this study, a low viscosity, two-part polysiloxane system was chosen as for self-healing chemistry due to its physical stability over a wide temperature range ( 45–150 8C), fast cure at room temperature (5–24 h) and low viscosity (750 cP), which is important for electrospinning. The capsules were quite susceptible to mechanical damage as can be observed in Figure 2b, where an electrospun capsule mat was scribed with a razor blade. This is important; successful self-healing requires the capsules to rupture upon a damage event. To optically determine the presence of part A and part B siloxane precursors in the self-healing structure, fluorescent dyes were added to the encapsulated healing agents and imaged (Fig. 2c). This enabled visualization that appropriate quantities of the part A and part B system were electrospun, and that they were uniformly distributed across the substrate. The red (Rhodamine B) and green (Coumarin 6) regions correspond to encapsulated part A

High efficiency and long life optical spectrum conversion device and process

Abstract: A spectral conversion device including a plurality of discrete units dyed with a photoluminescent material at a concentration greater than or equal to an amount sufficient to absorb and convert substantially all input light from a light source to a desired output spectrum, and a coating material disposed around the discrete units, wherein the coating material binds the plurality of discrete units to form a matrix, wherein when the plurality of discrete units are positioned over the light source, the input light passing through the transparent discrete units is not converted, and the input light passing through the doped discrete units is converted to red and green wavelengths, further wherein the emitted input light and the converted red and green light correspond to the desired output spectrum to produce one or more colors. An associated method and an associated device used with flat panel image displays are also provided.

Nonaqueous secondary battery

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a nonaqueous secondary battery having: a configuration prepared in one with a larger expansion and contraction degree upon charging and discharging out of a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, for performing function which suppresses the expansion and construction of the one with the larger expansion and contraction degree; with high safety by alleviating stress caused by expansion and contraction of the electrode plates upon charging and discharging the nonaqueous secondary battery, and by preventing breakage or buckling of the electrode plates upon charging and discharging. SOLUTION: An electrode group 10 configured with a cathode plate 4 with a positive electrode mixture coating material coated on a positive electrode collector 1 and with positive electrode mixture layers 2a, 2b formed, a negative electrode plate 8 with a negative electrode mixture coating material coated on a negative electrode collector 5 and with negative electrode mixture layers 6a, 6b formed on the negative electrode collector 5, with a separator 9 intervened between them and spirally wound, further has a configuration with the expansion and contraction suppressing function for suppressing expansion and contraction in either of the positive electrode plate 4 or the negative electrode plate 8 with the larger expansion and contraction degree upon charging and discharging. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Direct Liquid Coating of Chalcopyrite Light-Absorbing Layers for Photovoltaic Devices

Abstract: Liquid deposition approaches for chalcopyrite films used in thin-film photovoltaic devices are reviewed. Most of the targeted materials are based on Cu-In or Cu-In-Ga sulfides and selenides (i.e., CIS or CIGS, respectively), although recently related alternative materials based on abundant and nontoxic elements such as the kesterite Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 have been actively investigated. By direct liquid coating we refer collectively to a variety of techniques characterized by distributing a liquid or a paste to the surface of a substrate, followed by necessary thermal/chemical treatments to achieve the desired phase. The deposition media used are solutions or particle (usually submicrometer size) suspensions of metal oxide, organic and inorganic compounds, including metal chalcogenide species. The deposition techniques used are mainly printing and spin-coating, although any standard process such as spraying, dip-coating or slit casting can be applied. In contrast to other widely investigated liquid-coating methods such as chemical bath and electrodeposition, in which relatively slower solid film growth occurs during the actual deposition step, the techniques discussed in this Microreview are mainly sequential, featuring rapid formation of a precursor film with well-defined metal stoichiometry. The precursor film is then transformed by a thermal treatment, generally in a chalcogen-containing atmosphere, to the final crystalline layer. This approach permits the use of low-cost and high-throughput equipment and the deployment of large-scale production facilities with lower capital investment. Although many of the methods discussed are under laboratory development, there are already industrial start-ups employing these promising methods for future large-scale photovoltaic production.

Si/TiSi2 Heteronanostructures as High-Capacity Anode Material for Li Ion Batteries

Abstract: We synthesized a unique heteronanostructure consisting of two-dimensional TiSi2 nanonets and particulate Si coating. The high conductivity and the structural integrity of the TiSi2 nanonet core were proven as great merits to permit reproducible Li+ insertion and extraction into and from the Si coating. This heteronanostructure was tested as the anode material for Li+ storage. At a charge/discharge rate of 8400 mA/g, we measured specific capacities >1000 mAh/g. Only an average of 0.1% capacity fade per cycle was observed between the 20th and the 100th cycles. The combined high capacity, long capacity life, and fast charge/discharge rate represent one of the best anode materials that have been reported. The remarkable performance was enabled by the capability to preserve the crystalline TiSi2 core during the charge/discharge process. This achievement demonstrates the potency of this novel heteronanostructure design as an electrode material for energy storage.