Synthesis and modification of FeVO4 as novel anode for lithium-ion batteries

- The FeVO4 and FeVO4/graphene are synthesized by combining hydrothermal and heat treatment method.
- The FeVO4/graphene nanocomposite exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance.
- FeVO4/graphene delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1302.3 mAh g−1 and remained capacity as 1046.5 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles.
- The FeVO4/graphene composite behaved better electrochemical properties than that of pure FeVO4.

FeVO4 and FeVO4/graphene nanorods were synthesized successfully by combining a facile hydrothermal and heat treatment method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The content of graphene in FeVO4/graphene was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The electrochemical properties of the samples were also investigated by battery testing system. The results showed that the FeVO4 formed were taken on morphology of nanorods with the length between 0.5 and 1 μm and the diameter in range of 50 to 100 nm. Besides, the size of FeVO4/graphene was smaller than that of pure FeVO4. The content of graphene in composite was about 25.0% by weight. The reversible discharge capacities of FeVO4 and FeVO4/graphene were 405.2 mAh g−1 and 1046.5 mAh g−1 separately after 100 cycles at the current density of 100 mAh g−1 in the voltage range of 0.01-3 V. The reasons for the FeVO4/graphene composite to behave outstanding electrochemical properties were also discussed. The FeVO4/graphene composite can be a novel and promising anode material for lithium ion battery application.

The FeVO4/graphene are synthesized by combining hydrothermal and heat treatment method. It delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1302.3 mAh g−1 and remained capacity as 1046.5 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles and behaved better electrochemical properties than that of pure FeVO4.157