Molten salt synthesis of hexagonal tungsten trioxide nanoparticles for lithium-ion battery anode

Hexagonal tungsten trioxide nanoparticles were prepared using ammonium metatungstate hydrate as the precursor by a facile molten salt method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectropy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, Scanning electron microscope and Transmission electron microscope. When applied for lithium-ion battery anode, it delivers 320 mAh g−1 delithiation capacities at current density of 100 mA g−1 after 130 discharge-charge cycles. The results indicate that tungsten trioxide prepared by molten salt method would be a promising anode for Lithium-ion batteries.