New High Capacity Cathode Materials for Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries: Vanadate-Borate Glasses

V(2)O(5) based materials are attractive cathode alternatives due to the many oxidation state switches of vanadium bringing about a high theoretical specific capacity. However, significant capacity losses are eminent for crystalline V(2)O(5) phases related to the irreversible phase transformations and/or vanadium dissolution starting from the first discharge cycle. These problems can be circumvented if amorphous or glassy vanadium oxide phases are employed. Here, we demonstrate vanadate-borate glasses as high capacity cathode materials for rechargeable Li-ion batteries for the first time. The composite electrodes of V(2)O(5) – LiBO(2) glass with reduced graphite oxide (RGO) deliver specific energies around 1000 Wh/kg and retain high specific capacities in the range of ~ 300 mAh/g for the first 100 cycles. V(2)O(5) – LiBO(2) glasses are considered as promising cathode materials for rechargeable Li-ion batteries fabricated through rather simple and cost-efficient methods.