Enhanced electrochemical performances of multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified Li3V2(PO4)3/C cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

Highlights: → MWCNTs were employed as a highly conductive agent in Li3V2(PO4)3/C. The MWCNTs and the residual C will link the Li3V2(PO4)3 particles effectively. The Li3V2(PO4)3/(C + MWCNTs) showed a discharge capacity of 122.9 mAh g-1 at 10 C. - Abstract: The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified Li3V2(PO4)3/C composite is synthesized by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based carbon-thermal reduction method using MWCNTs as a highly conductive agent. PVA mainly supplies a reductive atmosphere to reduce V5+ and provides a network of carbon to inhibit the aggregation of Li3V2(PO4)3 particles. The amorphous carbon coating and MWCNTs co-modified composite shows excellent high-rate lithium intercalation/deintercalation property and cycling performance between 3.0 and 4.3 V. The discharge capacities of 131.7 and 122.9 mAh g-1 are obtained at rates of 1 C and 10 C, respectively, for the Li3V2(PO4)3/(C + MWCNTs). These improvements are attributed to the valid conducting networks of C + MWCNTs and the reduced Li3V2(PO4)3 particle size by the network carbon from the pyrolysis of PVA.