Simple solvent-free synthesis of rod-like Cu-doped V2O5 for high storage capacity cathode materials of lithium ion batteries

Rod-like Cu-doped V₂O₅ were synthesized by an extraordinary simple solid-state chemical route. Cu doping not only increases the cell volume, but also introduces abundant oxygen vacancies in V₂O₅ crystal lattice, which is benefit for fast electron and ion transport during charging-discharging process. As a result, the rod-like Cu-doped V₂O₅ exhibited a high discharge specific capacity of 293.1 mA h g⁻¹ at 1 C, much higher than the undoped V₂O₅ with the capacity of 235.5 mA h g⁻¹ and almost reaching to the theoretical capacity of 294 mA h g⁻¹. This simple and environment-friendly route to prepare advanced cathode shows great potential for industrial application in energy storage field.