Electrochemical Reduction of Silver Vanadium Phosphorus Oxide, Ag2VO2PO4: The Formation of Electrically Conductive Metallic Silver Nanoparticles

As a cathode material, silver vanadium phosphorus oxide (Ag2VO2PO4) displays several notable electrochemical properties: large capacity, high current capability, and an effective delivery of high current pulses. These cell performance characteristics can be attributed to the presence of silver nanoparticles formed in situ during the electrochemical reduction of Ag2VO2PO4. Specifically, changes in the composition and structure of Ag2VO2PO4 with reduction, especially the formation of silver nanoparticles, are detailed to rationalize a 15 000 fold increase in conductivity with initial discharge, which can be related to the power characteristics associated with Ag2VO2O4 cathodes in primary lithium batteries.