Beltlike V2O3@C Core–Shell‐Structured Composite: Design, Preparation, Characterization, Phase Transition, and Improvement of Electrochemical Properties of V2O3

Abstract A beltlike V 2 O 3 @C core–shell‐structured composite was successfully synthesized by thermal treatment with the precursor V 3 O 7 · H 2 O@C composite under an inert atmosphere. The phase, composition, structure, and morphology of the as‐obtained samples were confirmed by XRD, elemental analysis, FTIR, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), IR Raman, SEM, and TEM measurements. The process of the formation of V 2 O 3 @C is briefly discussed. The carbon coated onto the surface of V 2 O 3 is disordered, and V 2 O 3 keeps the original morphology of V 3 O 7 · H 2 O. V 2 O 3 @C has an average length that ranges from 0.4 to 5.2 μm, a width of about 80–170 nm, and an average thickness of the shells of about 15.6 nm. The possible formation mechanism of V 2 O 3 @C is proposed as follows: the reaction undergoes a solid‐state reaction by the interface reaction between V 3 O 7 cores and carbon shells. It was found that the V 2 O 3 @C composite possesses the same phase‐transition properties as V 2 O 3 , which could expand the possible applications of materials related to V 2 O 3 in the future. Furthermore, a V 2 O 3 sphere, a V 2 O 3 nanobelt, and the beltlike V 2 O 3 @C composite were explored as cathode materials for application in lithium‐ion batteries. The beltlike V 2 O 3 @C composite electrode exhibited the best electrochemical properties among them, thereby achieving our aim of improving the electrochemical properties of V 2 O 3 .