Electrochemical reduction of silver vanadium phosphorus oxide, Ag ₂VO₂PO₄: The formation of electrically conductive metallic silver nanoparticles

As a cathode material, silver vanadium phosphorus oxide (Ag ₂VO₂PO₄) displays several notable electrochemical properties: large capacity, high current capability, and an effective delivery of high current pulses. These cell performance characteristics can be attributed to the presence of silver nanoparticles formed in situ during the electrochemical reduction of Ag₂VO ₂PO₄. Specifically, changes in the composition and structure of Ag₂VO₂PO₄ with reduction, especially the formation of silver nanoparticles, are detailed to rationalize a 15000 fold increase in conductivity with initial discharge, which can be related to the power characteristics associated with Ag₂VO ₂PO₄ cathodes in primary lithium batteries.