Hierarchical Porous Intercalation‐Type V2O3 as High‐Performance Anode Materials for Li‐Ion Batteries

Abstract As intercalation‐type anode materials for Li‐ion batteries (LIBs), the commercially used graphite and Li4Ti5O12 exhibit good cycling and rate properties, but their theoretical specific capacities are too low to meet the ever‐growing demands of high‐energy applications such as electric vehicles. Therefore, the development of new intercalation‐type anode materials with larger capacity is very desirable. Herein, we design and synthesize novel 3 D hierarchical porous V2O3@C micro/nanostructures consisting of crumpled nanosheets, through self‐reduction under annealing from the structurally similar VO2 (B)@C precursors without the addition of any other reducing reagent or gas. Excitingly, it is found for the first time through ex situ XRD technology that V2O3 is a new, promising intercalation‐type anode material for LIBs with a high capacity. V2O3@C micro/nanostructures can deliver a large capacity of 732 mAh g−1 without capacity loss at 100 mA g−1 even after 136 cycles, as well as exhibiting excellent cycling and rate performances. The application of V2O3 for Na‐ion batteries (NIBs) is elaborated for the first time, and excitingly, it is found that V2O3@C micro/nanostructures may be promising anode materials for NIBs.