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Chemically preintercalated dopamine (DOPA) molecules were used as both reducing agent and carbon precursor to prepare δ-V2O5∙nH2O/C, H2V3O8/C, VO2(B)/C and V2O3/C nanocomposites via hydrothermal treatment or hydrothermal treatment followed by annealing under Ar flow. We found that the phase composition and morphology of the produced composites are influenced by the DOPA:V2O5 ratio used to synthesize (DOPA)xV2O5 precursors through DOPA diffusion into the interlayer region of δ-V2O5∙nH2O framework. The increase of DOPA concentration in the reaction mixture led to more pronounced reduction of vanadium and a higher fraction of carbon in the composites’ structure, as evidenced by XPS and Raman spectroscopy measurements. The electrochemical charge storage properties of the synthesized nanocomposites were evaluated in Li-ion cells with non-aqueous electrolyte. δ-V2O5∙nH2O/C, H2V3O8/C, VO2(B)/C, and V2O3/C electrodes delivered high initial capacities of 214, 252, 279, and 637 mAh·g–1, respectively. The insights provided by this investigation open up the possibility of creating new nanocomposite oxide/carbon electrodes for a variety of applications such as energy storage, sensing and electrochromic devices. 

A free-standing film composed of bilayered vanadium oxide nanoflakes is for the first time synthesized using a new low-energy process. The precursor powder, δ-Li x V 2 O 5 · n H 2 O, was prepared using a simple sol–gel based chemical preintercalation synthesis procedure. δ-Li x V 2 O 5 · n H 2 O was dispersed and probe sonicated in N -methyl pyrrolidone to exfoliate the bilayers followed by vacuum filtration resulting in the formation of a free-standing film with obsidian color. X-ray diffraction showed lamellar ordering of a single-phase material with a decreased interlayer distance compared to that of the precursor powder. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrated stacking of the individual nanoflakes. This morphology was further confirmed with scanning transmission electron microscopy that showed highly malleable nanoflakes consisting of ∼10–100 vanadium oxide bilayers. One of the most important consequences of this morphological rearrangement is that the electronic conductivity of the free-standing film, measured by the four-probe method, increased by an order of magnitude compared to conductivity of the pressed pellet made of precursor powder. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements showed the coexistence of both V 5+ and V 4+ oxidation states in the exfoliated sample, possibly contributing to the change in electronic conductivity. The developed approach provides the ability to maintain the phase purity and crystallographic order during the exfoliation process, coupled with the formation of a free-standing film of enhanced conductivity. The produced bilayered vanadium oxide nanoflakes can be used as the building blocks for the synthesis of versatile two-dimensional heterostructures to create innovative electrodes for electrochemical energy storage applications.