Electrochemical conditioning of vanadium(V) pentoxide xerogel films

The electrochemical behavior of layered vanadium(V) pentoxide xerogel films has been studied, focusing on the Lithium intercalation and reorganization effects accompanying the electrode conditioning process. The films at the initial condition consist of electrochemically heterogeneous regions, which collapse into a uniform band structure as the lithium ions are inserted in to the interlamellar space. At the saturation point, a single broad interva lence-transfer band is observed in the visible-near infrared region, and th e electrochemical behavior becomes independent of the diffusion process. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. Ail rights reserved.