High performance of solvothermally prepared VO2(B) as an anode for aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries

The VO2(B) was synthesized via a simple solvothermal route at 160 degrees C in ethanol. The initial discharge capacity of the VO2(B) anode, in saturated aqueous solution of LiNO3, was 177 mAh g(-1) at a current rate of 50 mA g(-1). After 50 cycles, the capacity fade was 4 %, but from 20th-50th cycle, no capacity drop was observed. The VO2(B) showed very good cyclability at a current rate of even 1000 mA g(-1) with initial discharge capacity of 92 mAh g(-1). The excellent electrochemical performance of VO2(B) was attributed to the stability of micro-nano structures to a repeated intercalation/deintercalation process, very good electronic conductivity as well as the very low charge transfer resistance in an aqueous electrolyte.