Hydrothermal Synthesis of H2V3O8 Nanobelts from V2O5 Xerogels for Lithium Battery Applications

Abstract

Vanadium oxyhydroxide (H2V3O8) nanobelts were synthesized from V2O5 xerogels through a simple hydrothermal process in efforts to obtain nanomaterials for rechargeable Li batteries. Polymers with multidentate oxygen ligands, such as polyethylene glycol or polyethylene oxide., were shown to play a critical role in the formation of H2V3O8 nanobelts during the hydrothermal process. The specific capacity measured during the initial discharge process for the lithium battery with a cathode made of H2V3O8 nanobelts were 292 mAh/g, which stabilized at ca. 261 mAh/g corresponding to two equivalents of Li intercalation/deintercalation into H2V3O8. Lithium batteries made of a vanadium-oxyhydroxide cathode showed better cycle stability than those with a V2O5 cathode.