Title: Khaki-coloured niobium oxide nanochains with enhanced lithium storage performances

Authors: Yanxin Bian; Zhonghua Zhang; Jinfang Su; Changming Mao; Guicun Li

Addresses: Laboratory of Functional and Biological Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China ' Laboratory of Functional and Biological Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China ' Laboratory of Functional and Biological Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China ' Laboratory of Functional and Biological Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China ' Laboratory of Functional and Biological Nanomaterials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China

Abstract: Khaki-coloured niobium oxides (H-Nb₂O₅) nanochains were synthesised via a facile low temperature solution-based method combined with hydrogenation treatment process. The nano-sized chain-like architectures facilitate the fast lithium ion diffusions. Meanwhile, the hydrogen reduction process can effectively endow Nb₂O₅ with partial Nb⁴⁺ species and/or oxygen vacancies, resulting in a large enhancement of its intrinsic electronic conductivity. When evaluated for lithium storage capacity, the H-Nb₂O₅ showed twice the rate capability at 20 C compared to that of the pristine Nb₂O₅ nanochains due to the combination of the reduced path and Nb⁴⁺ doping induced high electronic conductivity. This facile hydrogenation method is promising for designing high performance carbon-free electrode materials for lithium ion batteries.

Keywords: niobium oxide; nanochains; hydrogenation treatment; anode; lithium ion battery.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2019.097246

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2019 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.127 - 139

Received: 16 May 2017
Accepted: 26 Oct 2017
Published online: 07 Jan 2019 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article