Flame spray-pyrolyzed vanadium oxide nanoparticles for lithium battery cathodes

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanoparticles (30–60 nm) were made by a one-step and scalable flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) process. Optimization of the FSP processing conditions (precursor concentration and injection rate) enhanced the electrochemical performance of these nanoparticles. Increasing the cut-off potential for discharging from 1.5 to 2.5 V vs. Li/Li+ improved the cycle life of these V2O5 nanoparticles. Particles with the lowest specific surface area (32 m2 g−1) and highest phase purity (up to 98 wt%) showed excellent cyclability between 2.5 and 4.0 V vs. Li/Li+, retaining a specific charge of 110 mAh g−1 beyond 100 cycles at a specific current of 100 mA g−1, and also superior specific charge of 100 mAh g−1 at specific current up to 20C rate (or 2000 mA g−1).