Dip-coated silver-doped V2O5 xerogels as host materials for lithium intercalation

Vanadium pentoxide xerogels have shown high electrochemical performance in terms of energy content. The high specific energy and high intercalation capability make the materials promising for thin film lithium battery and electrochromic device applications. In order to enhance the rate capabilities of the host we increased the electronic conductivity by doping the V₂O₅ xerogels with silver. Samples were prepared by mixing various amounts of silver powder with V₂O₅ hydrogel. We were able to prepare silver-doped vanadium pentoxide dip-coated thin films with a molar ratio (Ag/V) ranging from 0.005 to 0.5 (Ag_yV₂O₃ with y = 0.01, 0.1 and 1). With the successful doping, the electronic conductivity of V₂O₅ was increased by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude. The insertion capacity of the material was maintained and up to 4 moles of lithium per mole of silver-doped V₂O₅ (XRG) were found to be reversibly intercalated.