General synthesis of three-dimensional alkali metal vanadate aerogels with superior lithium storage properties. Issue 37 (12th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fang, Guozhao; Zhou, Jiang; Liang, Caiwu; Cai, Yangsheng; Pan, Anqiang; Tan, Xiaoping; Tang, Yan; Liang, Shuquan
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 4:Issue 37(2016)
• Page Start: 14408
• Page End: 14415
• Publication Date: 2016-09-12
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ta05568k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : We demonstrate a general method for the preparation of a series of 3D alkali metal vanadate aerogels, including NaV3 O8, NaV6 O15, and K0.25 V2 O5 . The resulting aerogels exhibit excellent Li + storage properties in terms of high specific capacity, good rate capability, and outstanding cyclic stability as cathodes for LIBs. Abstract : Three-dimensional (3D) aerogel materials assembled from simplex nanostructures have many advantages in the energy field, but the synthesis of alkali metal vanadate aerogels remains challenging. Herein, we demonstrate a general method for the preparation of a series of 3D alkali metal vanadate aerogels, including NaV3 O8, NaV6 O15, and K0.25 V2 O5 . The aerogels with a large porous structure built from cross-linked ultra-long nanofibers can be prepared via the hydrothermal self-assembly route followed by a freeze-drying process. The resulting aerogels, e.g. NaV3 O8, NaV6 O15, and K0.25 V2 O5, exhibit excellent Li + storage properties in terms of high specific capacity, good rate capability, and outstanding cyclic stability as cathodes for lithium batteries. Importantly, the NaV3 O8 aerogel demonstrates an excellent long-life cyclic performance of 600 cycles at 1000 mA g −1 with no capacity fading. To account for the mechanisms that affect the electrochemical properties, a systematic study is conducted. The superior performances may be due to the superior mechanical stability, good reversibility of lithium insertion/de-insertion and excellent interior structural stability. It is believed that our strategy could probably be extended to prepare other metal vanadate aerogel materials with great promise for various applications.