Publication

Abstract : Abstract In this work, pure {LVP} nanoparticles and an LVP/graphene nanocomposite are successfully synthesized by a simple and cost effective polyol based solvothermal method, which can be easily scaled up. The synthesized nanocomposite contained small (30–60 nm) {LVP} nanoparticles completely and uniformly anchored on reduced graphene nanosheets. As a cathode for lithium ion batteries, the nanocomposite electrode delivered high reversible lithium storage capacity (189.8 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C), superior cycling stability (111.8 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C, 112.6 mA h g−1 at 5 C, and 103.4 mA h g−1 at 10 C after 80 cycles) and better C-rate capability (90.8 mA h g−1 at 10 C), whereas the pure {LVP} nanoparticles electrode delivered much less capacity at all investigated current rates. The enhanced electrochemical performance of the nanocomposite electrode can be attributed to the synergistic interaction between the uniformly dispersed {LVP} nanoparticles and the graphene nanosheets, which offers a large number of accessible active sites for the fast diffusion of Li ions, low internal resistance, high conductivity and more importantly, accommodates the large volume expansion/contraction during cycling.