Carbon scaffold VPO${}_4$ as an anode for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries

In order to eliminate the short fall due to PO${}_4$ group results in an intrinsic conductivity of the material, an attempt has been made to prepare carbon-coated VPO${}_4$/C via the sol-gel method as an anode in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). The as-prepared materials well wrapped with carbon, the interaction of carbon offers an efficient pathway for the conduction of carrier electrons and ions (Li${}^{+}$/Na${}^{+}$) to utilize almost the entire power of active material. This material exhibits noteworthy performances in LIBs/SIBs, by delivering an initial discharge capacity of 989/536 mAh g${}^{-1}$ at current density 100 mA g${}^{-1}$ with a capacity retention of 73/52% for the cell cycled up to 100 times.