Rutile TiO2's odyssey into the post-lithium ion battery horizon

Rutile titanium dioxide (TiO2) is regarded as one of the most promising electrode candidates for various rechargeable ion batteries applied in large-scale energy storage systems (ESSs) and electronic vehicles (EVs) due to its great cycling stability, high safety, and natural abundance. However, its poor electronic and ionic conductivities are the biggest obstacles on the way towards practical applications. In the past decades, four mainstream optimizing strategies were proposed to alleviate this issue, including constructing nanostructures, compositing with highly conductive materials, creating dual-phase interfaces, and introducing defects. Based on these strategies, a large number of rutile TiO2-based electrode materials were developed and gained good electrochemical performance for various rechargeable ion batteries. In this review, we retrospect the development pathway of TiO2-based electrode materials from the theoretical studies at the very beginning to today’s prosperity in material diversity. With a unique chronological perspective, the general and detailed evolution trends of rutile TiO2 electrode materials with different optimizing strategies are summarized. It is expected that this review can provide not only a complete overview of the development history of rutile TiO2 electrode materials but also a spotlight for the future trends of this promising electrode material towards practical applications.