Hydrothermal synthesis of single crystal MoO3 nanobelts and their electrochemical properties as cathode electrode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries

Orthorhombic phase MoO3 (α-MoO3) nanobelts with uniform diameter are successfully prepared through a hydrothermal synthesis route at a low temperature (180 °C) in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) using saturated solution of ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate (AHM) as well as nitrate as raw materials, and are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The CTAB plays a key role in the formation of α-MoO3 nanobelts and the aspect ratio of nanobelts significantly varies with quality of CTAB. The nanobelts with rectangular cross-sections have single crystalline orthorhombic phase structure, preferentially grow in [001] direction. Raman shifts of the α-MoO3 nanobelts are fully consistent with that of flaky structure; however, intensity ratio of peaks 818.3 cm−1 and 991.2 cm−1 of α-MoO3 nanobelts remarkably changes comparing with that of lamellar MoO3. Electrochemical properties of α-MoO3 single crystal nanobelts synthesized as cathode electrode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries are also measured. It indicates that the α-MoO3 nanobelts exhibit a better performance than MoO3 micro flakes.

► We obtain MoO3 nanobelts with uniform diameter at a low temperature.
► Nanobelts with rectangular cross-sections have single crystalline orthorhombic phase structure.
► We measure electrochemical properties of α-MoO3 single crystal nanobelts as cathode electrode for rechargeable lithium batteries.
► α-MoO3 nanobelts exhibit a better performance than MoO3 micro flakes.