Hydrothermal synthesis of a monoclinic VO2 nanotube–graphene hybrid for use as cathode material in lithium ion batteries

The hydrothermal reaction of a mixture of a colloidal dispersion of graphite oxide and ammonium vanadate yielded a hybrid made of graphene and a nanotubular metastable monoclinic polymorph of VO2, known as VO2(B). The formation of VO2(B) nanotubes is accompanied by the reduction of graphite oxide. Initially the partially scrolled graphite oxide layers act as templates for the crystallization of VO2(B) in the tubular morphology. This is followed by the reduction of graphite oxide to graphene resulting in a hybrid in which VO2(B) nanotubes are dispersed in graphene. Electron microscopic studies of the hybrid reveal that the VO2(B) nanotubes are wrapped by and trapped between graphene sheets. The hybrid shows potential to be a high capacity cathode material for lithium ion batteries. It exhibits a high capacity (similar to 450 mAh/g) and cycling stability. The high capacity of the hybrid is attributed to the interaction between the graphene sheets and the VO2(B) tubes which improves the charge-transfer. The graphene matrix prevents the aggregation of the VO2(B) nanotubes leading to high cycling stability. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.