Rod-like nanocrystalline B-VO2: Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and electrochemical properties

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Rod-like nanocrystalline VO{sub 2}(B) was prepared by hydrothermal process. • Reaction time on the morphology has been investigated. • CV has revealed reversible redox behavior with charge–discharge cycling. • Average coulombic efficiency is upper 98%. • Energy-related applications such as cathodes in lithium batteries. - Abstract: Rod-like nanocrystalline VO{sub 2}(B) has been successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal process by using V{sub 2}O{sub 5} as vanadium source and 4-butylaniline H{sub 3}C–(CH{sub 2}){sub 3}–(C{sub 6}H{sub 4})–HH{sub 2} as reducing and structure directing agent. The compounds were analyzed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and UV–visible spectroscopy. The VO{sub 2}(B) nanorods are up to several micrometers in length and about 80 nm in thickness with a large optical band gap of ∼2.709 eV. Thin films of VO{sub 2}(B) nanorods deposited on ITO substrates were electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The voltammograms show reversible redox behavior with charge–discharge cycling process corresponding to the reversible lithium intercalation/deintercalation into the crystal lattice. The average coulombic efficiency to this redox processes is upper 98% during the electrochemistry measurements.