Sol-gel synthesis and electrochemical properties of CuV2O6 cathode material

The CuV2O6 cathode material was successfully synthesized using the NH4VO3 and the alkaline copper carbonate (CuCO3 center dot Cu(OH)(2)center dot xH(2)O, malachite) as the starting reagents by a citrate sol-gel route. The structures and electrochemical properties of CuV2O6 synthesized at different temperature were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical measurements. The results showed that the sample prepared at 550 degrees C had small particle size, and thus revealed higher initial discharge capacity (403 mAh g(-1)) and better cycle performance than that prepared by the conventional solid-state method. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.