Morphological and electrochemical properties of LiV3O8 cathode powders prepared by spray pyrolysis

Lithium trivanadate (LiV3O8) powders are prepared by spray pyrolysis. The precursor powders of LiV3O8 obtained by spray pyrolysis have spherical and rod-like morphologies. The LiV3O8 powders post-treated at 300 degrees C and 400 degrees C also have spherical and rod-like morphologies. However, the LiV3O8 cathode powders post-treated at 500 degrees C consist of only rod-like crystals. The crystalline structure of the precursor powders that were directly prepared by spray pyrolysis comprised of LiV3O8 layers along with a small amount of beta-Li0.33V2O5 impurity. The peak due to beta-Li0.33V2O5 persisted in the XRD spectrum even after post-treatment at 300 degrees C. On the other hand, crystalline structures of the powders post-treated at 400 degrees C and 500 degrees C comprised pure LiV3O8 layers. The initial discharge capacities of the LiV3O8 cathode powders decrease from 344 mAh g(-1) to 261 mAh g(-1) when the post-treatment temperatures increase from 300 degrees C to 500 degrees C. The discharge capacities of the LiV3O8 cathode powders obtained after post-treatment at 400 degrees C and 500 degrees C are approximately 255 mAh g(-1) and 236 mAh g(-1), respectively, after 40 cycles. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.