V2O5-SiO2 hybrid as anode material for aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries

V2O5-SiO2 hybrid material was fabricated by heat-treating a mixture of H2SiO3 and V2O5. SEM, TEM, XRD, and N-2 isotherm analyses were performed to characterize the morphology and structure details of the as-prepared V2O5-SiO2. The possibility of using the as-prepared V2O5-SiO2 as anode material for aqueous lithium-ion batteries was investigated. Potentiostatic and galvanostatic results indicated that the intercalation/de-intercalation of Li+ in this material in aqueous electrolyte was quasi-reversible. It was also found that a discharge capacity of up to 199.1 mAh g(-1) was obtained at a current density of 50 mA g(-1) in aqueous solution of 1 M Li2SO4, a value which is much higher than the available reported capacities of vanadium (+5) oxides in aqueous electrolytes.