Facile synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotube–LiV3O8 nanocomposites as cathode materials for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-LiV3O8 nanocomposites have been fabricated by a facile sol–gel method without any pretreatment, surfactants or chelate agents added. The LiV3O8 nanoparticles grown on MWCNTs showed high specific discharge capacity up to 324mAhg−1, and greatly-enhanced cycling stability with a discharge capacity retention of 91% between cycles 10 and 40, while LiV3O8 nanopowders showed the specific discharge capacity only 233mAhg−1 and cycling stability with a capacity retention of 51% between cycles 10 and 40. The significantly improved electrochemical performance of the MWCNT–LiV3O8 nanocomposites is attributed to the formation of conductive networks by MWCNTs, and large surface areas of LiV3O8 nanoparticles grown on MWCNTs which stabilizes these nanoparticles against agglomeration.