Ultra-long Na2V6O16·xH2O nanowires: large-scale synthesis and application in binder-free flexible cathodes for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

Ultra-long Na₂V₆O₁₆·xH₂O (NaVO) nanowires with diameter of 60–80 nm and length of 50–60 μm were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA, FTIR and Raman spectra as well as nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm measurements. The binder-free flexible hybrid electrodes of both NaVO/multi-wall carbon nanotubes and NaVO/carbon black were fabricated by a simply vacuum-filtering method, and exhibit high capacity, superior cyclic stability and rate performance. The results imply the potential application of ultra-long NaVO nanowires as flexible cathode electrodes for high performance Li-ion batteries.