One-step synthesis of dense and spherical nanostructured V2O5 particles for cathode of lithium batteries and their electrochemical properties

•One-step synthesis of dense, spherical, nanostructured V2O5 particles was achieved.•As-prepared V2O5 consists of primary particles of approximately 100 nm size.•The electrochemical performance of spherical nanostructured V2O5 was investigated.•The potential range affects to the discharge capacity and cyclability of V2O5.

A one-step synthesis of V2O5 was directly achieved via ultrasonic spray pyrolysis at various synthesis temperatures ranging from 500 to 700 °C. The V2O5 prepared at 500 °C is dense and spherical nanostructured particles, which consist of primary particles with a size of approximately 100 nm. The morphology change remarkably progresses with increasing synthesis temperatures from 500 to 700 °C. The electrochemical performance of a cathode comprising dense and spherical nanostructured V2O5 particles prepared at 500 °C was investigated by galvanostatic discharge–charge cycling and cyclic voltammetry. From the discharge–charge cycling, the initial discharge capacity of the cathode was found to be about 403 mAh g−1 in the potential range of 1.5–4.0 V, but it decreased owing to inherent phase changes with repeated cycling. The potential range significantly affects the cycle performance, and the V2O5 cathode showed good cycle performance in the potential range of 2.5–4.0 V.

Graphical abstractDense and spherical nanostructured V2O5 particles.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide