COMPARISON OF LIV3O8 CATHODE MATERIALS PREPARED BY DIFFERENT METHODS

Lithium trivanadate, LiV3O8, can be prepared in a finely dispersed for m by dehydration of aqueous lithium vanadate gels. Two methods of dehy dration, both easily adaptable to large-scale production, are describe d in this work: freeze drying and spray drying. After heat-treatment o f the dried gels (xerogels) to remove loosely bound water they show a high capacity for lithium insertion, approaching four additional lithi um per formula unit, and good reversibility as electrode materials for high energy density lithium cells. How the heat-treatment temperature influences the crystal structure is demonstrated as well as the elect rochemical properties of the vanadium oxide.