A new method to prepare vanadium oxide nano-urchins as a cathode for lithium ion batteries

Urchin-like vanadium oxide nanotube clusters, abbreviated to VOx-NUs, were synthesized using a new method. Vanadium pentoxide, having a layered structure, was modified by lithium fluoride (LiF) and transformed into bi-phase lithium vanadate as the inorganic precursor. Then, VOx-NUs were prepared by hydrothermal reaction with dodecylamine as a template. This is different from other molecular assembly methods reported. VOx-NUs-350 nano clusters were obtained by annealing VOx-NUs at a temperature of 350 degrees C in air. Both samples were identified as three dimensional urchin-like nano clusters. Based on the characterization data obtained, a formation mechanism was established. By simply varying the LiF stoichiometric ratio, the nano tube density of the VOx-NUs could be controlled. VOx-NUs presented a higher initial rate capacity of 400 mA h g(-1) and VOx-NUs-350 maintained a better capacity of 150 mA h g(-1) after 50 cycles at a 100 mA g(-1) current density between 1.5 and 4 V versus Li/Li+.