Recent progress in rate and cycling performance modifications of vanadium oxides cathode for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract The emergency of high-power electrical appliances has put forward higher requirements for the power density of lithium-ion batteries. Vanadium oxides with large theoretical capacities and high operating voltages are considered as prospective alternatives for the cathode of a new generation of lithium-ion batteries. However, the poor rate and cycling performance caused by the sluggish electrons/lithium transportation, irreversible phase changes, vanadium dissolution and large volume changes during the repeated lithium intercalation/deintercalation hinder their commercial development. Several optimizing routes have been carried out and extensively explored to address these problems. Taking V2O5, VO2(B), V6O13, and V2O3 as examples, this article reviewed their crystal structures and lithium storage reactions. Besides, recent progress in modification methods for the electrochemical insufficiencies of vanadium oxides, including nanostructure, heterogeneous atom doping, composite and self-supported electrodes has been systematically summarized and finally, the challenges for the industrialization of vanadium oxide cathodes and their development opportunities are proposed.