Oxyvanite V3O5: A new intercalation-type anode for lithium-ion battery

In the present study, V3O5 microcrystals that synthesized via vacuum calcination are employed as anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for the first time. Despite the widely observed sluggish reaction kinetics and poor cycling stability in most micro-sized transition metal oxides, the V3O5 microcrystals exhibit excellent rate capability (specific capacities of 144 and 125 mA hg(-1) are achieved at extremely high current densities of 20 and 50 Ag-1, respectively) and long-term cycling performance (specific capacity of 117 mA hg(-1) is sustained over 2000 cycles at 50 Ag-1). It is ascribed to the three-dimensional open-framework structure of the V3O5 microcrystals as a major factor in dictating the fast reaction kinetics (lithium diffusion coefficient: similar to 10(-9) cm(2) s(-1)). In addition, significant insight into the reaction mechanism of the V3O5 microcrystals in concomitant its phase evolution are obtained from ex-situ XRD study, revealing that the V3O5 microcrystals undergo intercalation reaction with insignificant structural change in response to lithiation/delithiation.