Lithium Insertion into Vanadium Pentoxide Xerogels Containing Some Metal Cations

Vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) xerogels containing some foreign metal cations, Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and La³⁺, have been prepared by ion-exchange of hydroxonium ions, H₃O ⁺, and investigated as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium battery. The discharge capacities of the cation-exchanged V₂O ₅ xerogels are identical to that of V₂O₅ xerogel containing H₃O⁺ at low current density. However, the capacities of the cation-exchanged V₂O₅ xerogels became lower than that of V₂O₅ xerogel containing H ₃O⁺ with an increase in current density, suggesting the columbic interaction between the foreign metal cations and lithium ions hinders the diffusion of lithium ions between the layers.