Structure and electrochemical behavior of lithium vanadate materials for lithium batteries

New vanadate compounds having the molecular structure LixMg1−xV2−xMoxO6 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) were studied. Six samples were prepared by sol–gel process from precursor using the following ratios of x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1, respectively. These samples were labeled S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6. The final process of firing occurred at 750 °C for 18 h in air. The prepared materials were characterized by XRD, SEM, IR, electron spin resonance (ESR) and magnetic measurements. The morphologies of S1, S2, S5 and S6 are prismatic as they have monoclinic crystal structures. S3 and S4 differ in the crystal morphology from the other previous samples due to their triclinic crystal lattice structure. IR spectra revealed that the bond lengths of the vanadyl groups νVO, νsy V–O and σV–O increase in the same direction from S1 to S6. The data of the ESR explain the existence of V4+ beside V5+ in S1, S4 and S6 and also presence of Mo5+ with Mo6+ in S4 and S6. S4 exhibited better magnetic susceptibility and saturated magnetization than the other samples. The first specific discharge capacities of the samples were performed. S4 showed the maximum specific capacity of 265 mAh g−1 in comparison with the other samples. Cyclic voltammogram of S4 exhibited the highest current intensity in comparison with the other samples. This sample showed two peaks at 0.53 and 1.3 V versus Li/Li+ characterizing double de-insertions of two lithium atoms from Li1.6Mg0.4V1.4Mo0.6O6−x and Li0.6Mg0.4V1.4Mo0.6O6, respectively. Also, two additional peaks were characterized for the oxidation of Mo5+ to Mo6+ and V4+ to V5+ at 3.5 and 4 V, respectively.