Nanoparticle Facilitated Charge Transfer and Voltage of a High Capacity VB2 Anode

The storage of multiple electrons per molecule provides opportunities to greatly enhance electrochemical energy capacity. VB2 releases, via electrochemical oxidation, 11 electrons per molecule at a favorable, electrochemical potential. Coupled with an air cathode, this 4060 mAh/g intrinsic capacity anode, has energy capacity greater than that of gasoline. Nanochemical improvements of VB2 are probed to facilitate charge transfer and discharge voltage. Nanoparticle formation is accomplished with a planetary ball mill media (tungsten carbide) with hardness comparable to that of VB2 (8-9 Mohs(2)). Mechanochemical synthesized, VB2 nanorods, exhibit higher voltage, sustain higher rate, and depth of discharge than macroscopic VB2. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI:10.1149/1.3559799] All rights reserved.