Low-temperature synthesis of LiV3O8 nanosheets as an anode material with high power density for aqueous lithium-ion batteries

Nanosheets of lithium vanadium oxide (LiV₃O₈) were successfully synthesized by a simple low temperature citrate sol–gel combustion route. Compact nanosheets of the active material were observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopies. X-ray diffraction measurements indicated that as-prepared nanosheets presented pure phase of monoclinic LiV₃O₈ with p2₁/m symmetry. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was employed to investigate the electrochemical behavior of the nanosheets with special emphasis on the application potential as anodic material for aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries. CV studies demonstrated that the LiV₃O₈ nanosheets represent well-defined reversible peaks. The nanosheets showed a discharge capacity of 63 mAh/g in 1.0 M LiNO₃ solution at a 2C/5 rate.