Bi8V2O17 hierarchical framework encapsulated in flexible carbon nanotube-interwoven graphene hybrid for advanced lithium/sodium storage: Experimental and theoretical study

A novel hierarchical Bi8V2O17 framwork with Bi:V ratio of 4:1 encapsulated in flexible carbon nanotube-interwoven graphene hybrid membrane (Bi8V2O17@rGO/CNTs) is constructed through a facile filtration and a following thermal reduction course. Characterization results demonstrate that nanoflake-assembled Bi8V2O17 microflowers are intimately encapsulated into a 3D disordered network structure with certain elasticity ascribed to layered graphene and CNTs. Electrochemical measurements show that the hybrid membrane acted as a freestanding binder-free electrode exhibits reversible lithium and sodium storage capabilities with superior electrochemical performance. The modifying effect of rGO/CNTs as carbonaceous materials on the electrochemical performance improvement of Bi8V2O17 is studied by density functional theory computations. And the reasons that lithium storage performance of the hybrid membrane electrode is better than that of sodium storage property are elucidated by theoretical calculation. The research provides experimental and theoretical basis to understand the electrochemical performance of Bi8V2O17@rGO/CNTs electrode for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries.

Automated summary

A novel hierarchical Bi8V2O17 framework encapsulated in a flexible carbon nanotube-interwoven graphene hybrid membrane (Bi8V2O17@rGO/CNTs) is constructed, showing superior electrochemical performance for lithium and sodium storage. The study investigates the modifying effect of rGO/CNTs on the improvement of Bi8V2O17 electrochemical performance, and provides theoretical and experimental basis for understanding the electrode's performance in lithium- and sodium-ion batteries.