LiVP2O7/C: A New Insertion Anode Material for High-Rate Lithium-Ion Battery Applications

LiVP2O7/C, popularly known so far as an environmentally compatible and economically viable lithium battery cathode material, was exploited for the first time as an anode through the current study. LiVP2O7/C was synthesized by adopting oxalyl dihydrazide assisted solution combustion method and explored as an anode material in rechargeable lithium cell assembly. Notably, an initial capacity of 600 mAh g(-1) was exhibited by LiVP2O7/C anode, at the rate of 0.5 C along with an excellent Coulombic efficiency of 99% up to 150 cycles. The title anode demonstrates its suitability for high capacity and high rate applications by way of exhibiting appreciable capacity values of 200, 150, 120, and 110 mAh g(-1), under the influence of 2, 4, 6, and 8 C rates, respectively. Further, LiVP2O7/C anode, when subjected to a high current 10 C rate, exhibits an acceptable capacity of 107 mAh g(-1) up to 500 cycles, which is closer to its theoretical capacity value of 117 mAh g(-1). The study demonstrates the possibility of exploiting LiVP2O7/C as yet another potential anode and thereby opens a newer avenue to explore wide variety of LiMP2O7/C composites for their probable anode behavior in rechargeable lithium batteries.