High capacity and excellent cyclability of vanadium (IV) oxide in lithium battery applications

A VO2 · 0.43H2O powder with a flaky particle morphology was synthesized via a hydrothermal reduction method. It was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. As an electrode material for rechargeable lithium batteries, it was used both as a cathode versus lithium anode and as an anode versus LiCoO2, LiFePO4 or LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode. The VO2 · 0.43H2O electrode exhibits an extraordinary superiority with high capacity (160 mAh g−1), high energy efficiency (95%), excellent cyclability (142.5 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles) and rate capability (100 mAh g−1 at 10 C-rate).