Mo doped vanadium oxide nanotubes: microstructure and electrochemistry

Mo doped vanadium oxide nanotubes (VONT) were prepared via a rheological phase reaction followed by self-assembling process and were heated at 400 °C in an inert atmosphere. The nanotubes were characterized by SEM, HRTEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical investigation, etc. In contrast to the undoped VONTs, the interlayer distance between oxide layers in the (V0.99Mo0.01)xONTs increases owing to replacement of some V in nanotubes by Mo with a larger ionic radius, resulting in a shorten diffusion length of Li ions and an improved electrochemical performance. Moreover, this study reveals that the electrochemical performance of (V0.99Mo0.01)xONTs is further enhanced by removing the residual organic template by heating in an inert atmosphere.