Lithium storage in microstructures of amorphous mixed-valence vanadium oxide as anode materials

Di Zhao, Lirong Zheng, Ying Xiao, Xia Wang, Minhua Cao*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Constructing three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures with excellent structural stability is an important approach for realizing high-rate capability and a high capacity of the electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we report the synthesis of hydrangea-like amorphous mixed-valence VOx microspheres (a-VOx MSs) through a facile solvothermal method followed by controlled calcination. The resultant hydrangea-like a-VOx MSs are composed of intercrossed nanosheets and, thus, construct a 3D network structure. Upon evaluation as an anode material for LIBs, the a-VOx MSs show excellent lithium-storage performance in terms of high capacity, good rate capability, and long-term stability upon extended cycling. Specifically, they exhibit very stable cycling behavior with a highly reversible capacity of 1050 mA hg-1 at a rate of 0.1 Ag-1 after 140 cycles. They also show excellent rate capability, with a capacity of 390 mAhg-1 at a rate as high as 10 Ag-1. Detailed investigations on the morphological and structural changes of the a-VOx MSs upon cycling demonstrated that the a-VOx MSs went through modification of the local V-O coordinations accompanied with the formation of a higher oxidation state of V, but still with an amorphous state throughout the whole discharge/charge process. Moreover, the a-VOx MSs can buffer huge volumetric changes during the insertion/extraction process, and at the same time they remain intact even after 200 cycles of the charge/discharge process. Thus, these microspheres may be a promising anode material for LIBs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2212-2222
Number of pages11
JournalChemSusChem
Volume8
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2015

Keywords

  • Amorphous materials
  • Lithium-ion batteries
  • Microspheres
  • Mixed-valent compounds
  • Vanadium oxide

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