Vanadium pentoxide nanobelts and nanorolls: from controllable synthesis to investigation of their electrochemical properties and photocatalytic activities

Uniform V(2)O(5)· xH(2)O nanobelts with high aspect ratios and ultra-long V(2)O(5)· xH(2)O nanorolls with novel scroll-like structures were synthesized on a large scale by a simple hydrothermal growth route using NH(4)VO(3) as the raw material in the presence of different acids at 180 °C for 24 h. Their morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray powder diffraction measurement and thermal gravimetric analysis revealed the composition of nanobelts and nanorolls to be V(2)O(5)·0.9H(2)O and V(2)O(5)·0.6H(2)O, respectively. The possible mechanisms of formation of the nanobelts and nanorolls were schematically elucidated based on the layered structure of vanadium pentoxide. In addition, corresponding anhydrous V(2)O(5) nanostructures with better crystallinity were obtained by calcining the precursors of V(2)O(5)·0.9H(2)O nanobelts or V(2)O(5)·0.6H(2)O nanorolls. Furthermore, we have investigated the electrochemical intercalation properties with Li(+) and the photocatalytic activities of the synthesized V(2)O(5)·0.9H(2)O nanobelts, V(2)O(5)·0.6H(2)O nanorolls and their corresponding post-annealing products. It was observed that the morphologies and compositions of the synthesized products had an evident influence on the electrochemical intercalation properties with Li(+) and photocatalytic activities.