Abstract: Cathode materials for Li-ion batteries such as pure LiV3O8 and LiV3O8/V2O5 composite have been prepared by a hydrothermal reaction method. XRD, SEM and BET were employed to characterize the samples. The results show that the chemical formula of the as-prepared composite is LiV3O8·0.2V2O5. The interlayer distance of LiV3O8 in the composite is enhanced due to the existence of V2O5. SEM results show that pure LiV3O8 product consists of small laminar nanocrystallites that stacked together. While numerous cavities have been formed between the stacked laminar nanocrystallites in the composite. The porous structures in the composites can increase the penetration of electrolyte and therefore benefit the lithium intercalation/deintercalation reaction. Charge-discharge cycling tests show that LiV3O8/V2O5 composite has a higher initial discharge capacity and better cycling performance compared with LiV3O8.

Key words: Li-ion batteries, composite material, hydrothermal synthesis