V2O5 xerogel–poly(ethylene oxide) hybrid material: Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties

In this work, we report the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties of vanadium pentoxide xerogel–poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) hybrid materials obtained by varying the average molecular weight of the organic component as well as the components’ ratios. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet/visible and infrared spectroscopies, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, and cyclic voltammetry. Despite the presence of broad and low intensity peaks, the X-ray diffractograms indicate that the lamellar structure of the vanadium pentoxide xerogel is preserved, with increase in the interplanar spacing, giving evidence of a low-crystalline structure. We found that the electrochemical behaviour of the hybrid materials is quite similar to that found for the V2O5 xerogel alone, and we verified that PEO leads to stabilization and reproducibility of the Li+ electrochemical insertion/de-insertion into the V2O5 xerogel structure, which makes these materials potential components of lithium ion batteries.