Synthesis and electrochemical properties of V2O5 nanostructures prepared via a precipitation process for lithium-ion battery cathodes

One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) have been successfully synthesized via a precipitation process followed by heating in vacuum at 300 degrees C. The samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical testing by techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and discharge-charge cycling in lithium cells. Average crystal size of these oxides increased from 36 to 83 nm as annealing time was increased from 45 min to 1 h, which also led to a decrease in Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area from 41 to 17 m(2) g(-1). Good cyclability and high capacity (>200 mAh g(-1)) were achieved in the voltage range of 2.0-4.0 V (versus Li metal) at a current rate of 50 mA g(-1) by annealing the oxides for 1 h. The increase in crystallinity and higher yield of one-dimensional nanostructure oxides contributed significantly to the improved capacity and enhanced cycle life. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.