High-specific-capacity molybdate anode materials for lithium-ion batteries with good low-temperature performance

Abstract

Molybdate materials have proved to be potential anode because of their superior specific capacity, stable three-dimensional framework structure and fast lithium-ion transport ability. However, the low-temperature properties and electrochemical reaction mechanism still lack in-depth research. Here, two molybdate materials, LiCr(MoO4)2/C and Li3Cr(MoO4)3/C, are synthesized by a sample ball-milling assisted high-temperature solid state method and studied as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) at room temperature and low temperature. Between 0.01 V and 3.00 V, LiCr(MoO4)2/C and Li3Cr(MoO4)3/C exhibit high specific capacities of 1158 and 1077 mA h·g−1 at 50 mA·g−1 at 25 °C, respectively. LiCr(MoO4)2/C delivers a high specific capacity of 352 mA h·g−1 at a high current density of 5000 mA·g−1. After 500 cycles, LiCr(MoO4)2/C and Li3Cr(MoO4)3/C both retain reversible capacities over 600 mA h·g−1 at 250 mA·g−1. Even at low temperature of 0 °C, − 10 °C, − 20 °C, Li3Cr(MoO4)3/C still delivers high capacities of 1061, 891 and 742 mA h·g−1, respectively. Ex-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) is conducted to study the electrochemical reaction mechanism. Moreover, low-temperature cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests are used to explore the limitations of low-temperature performance. This work provides low-temperature anode material for LIBs and deepens the understanding of low-temperature performance.