Electrochemical Lithium Insertion Behavior of Combustion Synthesized V₂O₅Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Sub-micron size vanadium pentoxide (V 2 O 5 ) particles are synthesized by novel urea assisted combustion method. Comprehensive characterization and electrochemical studies related to sintering temperature and duration are presented. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed the formation of pure-phase V 2 O 5 and the surface morphologies are studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Electrochemical properties of the sintered V 2 O 5 as a cathode in lithium-ion batteries are explored with respect to synthesis parameters using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge studies. The V 2 O 5 particles obtained from 600°C sintering temperature for 1 h exhibits a higher initial discharge capacity ∼320 mAh g −1 (∼2.2 Li per V 2 O 5 ) between 1.75–4.0 V vs. Li/Li + at 0.1 C rate and shows good capacity retention of >70% after 50 cycles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies show that the urea combustion method enables increased Li + ion diffusion pathways and electro-active surface area in V 2 O 5 particles. Ball milling procedure with or without carbon is also adopted to further reduce the particle size of V 2 O 5 and related electrochemical properties are evaluated and described.