Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Wires (1D) to Plates (3D) LiV<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>8</SUB> Combining Sol–Gel and Electrospinning Processes

Abstract

Using the combined techniques of sol-gel and electrospinning, nanostructures (wire (1D) to plates (3D)) of LiV3O8 are prepared with poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) as the template. A precursor gel of LiOH-V2O5 is prepared in alkaline medium. Fibrous membranes of PVA with different weight% of LiOH-V2O5 gel are prepared by electrospinning and designated as PVA/LiOH-V2O5 composite membrane fibers. The composite fibrous membranes are subjected to calcination at 500 degrees C to obtain different nanostructured LiV3O8. FESEM images of LiV3O8 inform that as the loading % of LiOH-V2O5 gel in the composite membrane increased, the morphology of LiV3O8 changed from fibrous wires (1D) to plates (3D). FESEM images reveal that the diameters of the composite fibrous membranes, PVA/LiOH-V2O5 are in the range of 80-120 nm. Results from X-ray diffraction and thermal studies clearly confirm the formation of LiV3O8 after calcination of PVA/LiOH-V2O5 composite membrane at 500 degrees C. It is presumed that this preparation strategy can be extended to obtain nanostructures of other inorganic oxides.