Vanadium pentoxide nanobelts and nanorolls: From controllable synthesis to investigation of their electrochemical properties and photocatalytic activities

Uniform V2O5 center dot xH(2)O nanobelts with high aspect ratios and ultra-long V2O5 center dot xH(2)O nanorolls with novel scroll-like structures were synthesized on a large scale by a simple hydrothermal growth route using NH4VO3 as the raw material in the presence of different acids at 180 degrees C for 24 h. Their morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray powder diffraction measurement and thermal gravimetric analysis revealed the composition of nanobelts and nanorolls to be V2O5 center dot 0.9H(2)O and V2O5 center dot 0.6H(2)O, respectively. The possible mechanisms of formation of the nanobelts and nanorolls were schematically elucidated based on the layered structure of vanadium pentoxide. In addition, corresponding anhydrous V2O5 nanostructures with better crystallinity were obtained by calcining the precursors of V2O5 center dot 0.9H(2)O nanobelts or V2O5 center dot 0.6H(2)O nanorolls. Furthermore, we have investigated the electrochemical intercalation properties with Li+ and the photocatalytic activities of the synthesized V2O5 center dot 0.9H(2)O nanobelts, V2O5 center dot 0.6H(2)O nanorolls and their corresponding post-annealing products. It was observed that the morphologies and compositions of the synthesized products had an evident influence on the electrochemical intercalation properties with Li+ and photocatalytic activities.