Bitter gourd-shaped Ni3V2O8 anode developed by a one-pot metal-organic framework-combustion technique for advanced Li-ion batteries

The present study reports on the one-pot synthesis of Ni3V2O8 (NVO) electrodes by a simple metal organic framework-combustion (MOF-C) technique for anode applications in Li-ion batteries (LIBs). The particle morphology of the prepared NVO is observed to vary as irregular rods, porous bitter gourd and hybrid micro/nano particles depending on the concentration of the framework linker used during synthesis. In specific, the orthorhombic phase and the unique bitter gourd-type secondary structure comprised of agglomerated nanoparticles and porous morphologies is confirmed using powder X-ray diffraction, electron microscopies, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and N2 adsorption-desorption measurements. When tested for lithium batteries as anode, the bitter gourd-type NVO electrode shows an initial discharge capacity of 1362 mA h g−1 and a reversible capacity of 822 mA h g−1 are sustained at a rate of 200 mA g−1 after 100 cycles. Moreover, at 2000 mA g−1, a reversible capacity of 724 mA h g−1 is retained after 500 cycles. Interestingly, the porous bitter gourd-shaped NVO electrode registered significantly high rate performance and reversible specific capacities of 764, 531 and 313 mA h g−1 at high rates of 1, 5 and 10 A g−1, respectively.