Low temperature synthesis of a stable MoO2 as suitable anode materials for lithium batteries

Fissile molybdenum dioxide (MoO2) was synthesized using a rheological phase reaction as a novel method suitable for a large scale up. The oxalate precursor was initially prepared at 80 °C and was treated at different temperatures. The physical characterization was carried out by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of TG/DTA and XRD indicate that the oxalate precursor begins to yield MoO2 at 250 °C and a single phase MoO2 with monocline symmetry is formed at 350 °C. The electrochemical characteristics of fissile MoO2 as an anode material for lithium batteries have also been studied and the morphological properties were found to play an important role in the cycling stability. The activated MoO2 displays 484 mAh g−1 capacity in the initial charge process with a capacity retention of 83.1% after 40 cycles in the range of 0.01–2.00 V versus metallic lithium at a current density of 100 mA g−1. The SEM results reveal that there is a correlation between the cycling performance of the MoO2 powders and their morphological properties.