Ultrasonically Treated LiV3 O 8 as a Cathode Material for Secondary Lithium Batteries

A new treatment of has been proposed for improving its electrochemical behavior as a cathode material for secondary lithium batteries. The ultrasonically treated products in water were characterized by x‐ray diffractometry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and specific surface area measurements. These measurements showed that the ultrasonic treatment process of crystalline causes a decrease in crystallinity and considerable increases in specific surface area and interlayer spacing. The product, ultrasonically treated in water for 3 h and then heat‐treated at 250°C for 6 h, showed a high initial discharge capacity of 283 mAh/g active material, which was 62% higher than that of the starting material, and was charge‐discharge cycled without a large capacity loss during 40 cycles. The ultrasonic treatment of can improve not only the specific capacity but also the cycling behavior.