Manganese vanadium oxide nanotubes: Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemistry

Vanadium oxide nanotubes have been formed from the layered vanadium oxide p recursor V2O5+delta[C12H25NH3]. Both the precursor and tubes have been char acterized. The black nanotubes have a relatively low thermal stability in o xygen, being oxidized to V2O5 below 200 degreesC. A new manganese vanadium oxide nanotube, Mn0.1VO2.5+delta. nH(2)O, has been synthesized by ion excha nge. These manganese tubes have a tetragonal layer with a = 6.157 (3) Angst rom and an interlayer spacing c = 10.52 (3) Angstrom. The nanotubes react w ith lithium chemically and are also electrochemically active in lithium cel ls. Two lithium atoms per vanadium can be incorporated chemically from n-bu tyllithium into both the manganese and the alkylammonium nanotubes. The man ganese compound electrochemically intercalates 0.5 lithium per vanadium to a 2 V cutoff, giving a capacity of 140 A h/kg.