Ag-functionalized exfoliated V2O5 nanosheets: a flexible and binder-free cathode for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Problems associated with seeking the high-performance flexible cathode materials similar to graphene constitute one of the main obstacles to using lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in next-generation flexible and wearable electronics. Herein, the bendable and self-standing electrodes based on Ag nanoparticles decorated on few-layers V2O5 nanosheets are successfully fabricated by simple liquid-phase exfoliation and sol-gel method. Exfoliated V2O5 nanosheets with few-layers achieve higher Li+ ions diffusion kinetics derived from faster Li+ transport along the b-axis in the layers. Besides, Ag-functionalized ultrathin V2O5 nanosheets, as a flexible electrode of LIBs, exhibit higher electronic conductivity, superior discharge capacity (301 mA h g−1 at 1 C) and better rate performance (128 mA h g−1 at 10 C). Benefiting from the homogeneous dispersion of Ag nanoparticles and excellent flexibility of V2O5 nanosheets, after 100 times of 180° bending, the capacity of Ag@V2O5 nanosheets can stabilize at 233 mA h g−1 after the 200th cycle.