Lithium-ion battery electrode prepared by confining carbon nanotubes/V2O5 nanoribbons suspension in model air–liquid foams

Well-defined macroporous V2O5–CNTs hybrid solid foams are synthesized in the form of monolith by a controlled bubbling process. For the first time, the solid phase results from the co-assembly of two different anisotropic nano-building blocks in the continuous phase of model foams whose bubble size and liquid fraction could be tuned. Their electrochemical properties were examined in view of their application as cathode for Li-ion battery. This first investigation revealed that capacity up to 250 mAh g−1 (i.e. 2 Li per V2O5) can be attain with a good retention under cycles when CNTs are present making these new cellular materials interesting candidate for systems which require the penetration of viscous ionic-liquid/polymer electrolytes.

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► Nanostructured foams with controlled cell size and wall thickness were prepared.
► Assembly of CNTs and V2O5 nanoribbons in foam channel leads to solid nanocomposite.
► Capacity up to 250 mAh g−1 (i.e. 2 Li per V2O5) can be attain with CNT–V2O5 foam.