V₂O₃ nanoparticles anchored onto the reduced graphene oxide for superior lithium storage

The V₂O₃/reduced graphene oxide (V₂O₃-rGO) 3D gels are synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction and annealing process, using graphene oxide and NH₄VO₃ as raw materials. The V₂O₃ nanoparticles with the size of 4–10 nm are homogeneously and closely anchored onto the graphene foam. When used as anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the V₂O₃-rGO 3D gel exhibits high capacity (786 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.07 A g⁻¹), good cycle stability (350 mAh g⁻¹ at 1.86 A g⁻¹ after 1000 cycles) and excellent rate capability (192 mAh g⁻¹ at 37.2 A g⁻¹) as well as distinguished electrochemical properties at a wide temperature range of 0–75 °C. The desirable electrochemical performance should be attributed to the high content of V₂O₃, the nanoscale size of V₂O₃ and the 3D porous graphene network.