Synthesis of V₂O₅ nanostructures with various morphologies and their electrochemical and field-emission properties

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 188; pp. 64 - 70
• Main Authors: Zeng, Min, Yin, Haihong, Yu, Ke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 15.04.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; batteries; Chemical engineering; diffusivity; electrochemistry; electrodes; Exact sciences and technology; nanowires; polymers; pyrrolidones; surfactants; Stability; Nanostructure; Field emission; Enhancement factor; Surfactant; Precursor; Electrochemical property; nanostructures; Electrodes; 0; Electrochemical properties; Hydrothermal synthesis; Morphology; V; Diffusion coefficient
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2012.02.009

Several V₂O₅ nanostructures including nanowires, nanowaxberries and nanoflowers were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal process with NH₄VO₃ as precursor and polymer polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as surfactant. In the synthesis process, morphologies of the products are found to be sensitive to the concentration of the surfactant. Electrochemical properties measurements of these three nanostructures are performed, showing that V₂O₅ nanoflowers have the best stability and highest Li ion diffusion coefficient compared to other two kinds of structures, which is most suitable for application in Li-ion battery electrodes. Moreover, field emission (FE) measurements are also performed, showing that these nanostructures possess excellent field emission properties, in which V₂O₅ nanowaxberries have the lowest turn-on field, threshold field and the highest field-enhancement factor of 2.9V/μm, 5.7V/μm and 2468, respectively, making them a promising material for field emitters.