Electric Cu nanoparticles decorated V2O5 spheres as high performance cathodes for lithium ion batteries

In order to overcome the intrinsic drawbacks of V2O5, including the intrinsically low electrical conductivity and slow electrochemical kinetics, V2O5 nanospheres are uniformly mixed with the electric Cu nanoparticles for forming V2O5/Cu composites. As used as an cathode material for LIBs, the V2O5/Cu composite demonstrated obviously improved electrochemical performance including high reversible specific capacity, superior rate capability and outstanding cycling stability. The V2O5/Cu cathodes can afford a high reversible capacity of 186 mAh g(-1) after 70 cycles under a current density of 300 mA g(-1) and good rate performance. Even at a high current density of 5 A g (-1), a high reversible capacity of 101 mAh g(-1) after 350 cycles can still remain. The improved performance can be contributed from the decorated Cu nanoparticles, which can result in a good contact in active materials and facilitate transportation of the electron into the inner region of the electrode. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.