Synthesis and characterization of layered vanadium oxide nanotubes for rechargeable lithium batteries

Abstract

A range of vanadium oxide nanotubes consisting of scrolled layers of primary amine functionalized xerogel have been produced by a hydrothermal treatment of a xerogel/amine mixture. The nanotubes consist of a hollow core flanked by parallel layers of scrolled vanadium oxide layers. The interlayer spacing is varied on the sub-nm scale by intercalated amines templates of various molecular lengths. High resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the resulting nanotubes. When the molar ratio of xerogel:amine is 1:2, a maximum yield of nanotubes is produced and the interlayer spacing can be controlled. For a molar ratio of xerogel:amine of 2:1, the product contains a low yield of nanotubes and the corresponding interlayer spacing is independent of the length of the amine template. A comparison of measured interlayer distances with the actual physical length of the primary amine chains shows that interdigitation of the amines occurs.