Electrochemical properties of α-LiVOPO4/C composites prepared by a combined sol-gel-microwave method

Abstract Triclinic LiVOPO4/C composites were prepared by a combined sol–gel-microwave process using CH3COOLi, V2O5, NH4H2PO4, oxalic acid and carbon nanotubes as raw materials. The microstructures of the composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The morphology and particle size of α-LiVOPO4/C were determined by transmission electron microscopy, and it was observed that the outer surface of α- LiVOPO4/C was covered a 1.85 nm thick carbon layer (synthesized at 600 °C) and the average particle size was less than 100 nm (50–100 nm). When the crystallization temperature was 600 °C, α-LiVOPO4/C provided an initial capacity of 123.2 mAh.g−1 (0.05C), and the capacity reached 120.2 mAh.g−1 after 50 cycles.