Lithium insertion behaviour of Li1+xV3O8 prepared by precipitation technique in CH3OH

Li_1+xV₃O₈ (LT-M sample) was obtained by the sol-gel method in CH₃OH. This sample, prepared at 350°C, possessed a smaller grain size and better electrochemical performance than the HT sample prepared by conventional high temperature synthesis. High discharge capacity (372 mAh g⁻¹: x=4.0) and reversible discharge and charge cycles were attained owing to improvement of insertion and extraction kinetics. When heated at 200°C, CH₃OH molecules remained in the compound and crystallinity became lower by lithium insertion over x=2.0. The lithium deintercalation was irreversible.