Solid-State Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Vanadium Oxide for Use as a Cathode Material for Lithium Batteries

Silver vanadium oxide (SVO, AgV₂O_5.5) was synthesized for use as a cathode material in lithium/SVO batteries. The material was prepared via the solid-state thermal reaction of a silver-containing precursor and vanadium pentoxide at 500 °C under an air or argon atmosphere. The silver-containing precursors examined in this study were silver nitrate, silver nitrite, silver vanadate, silver oxide, silver carbonate, and silver metal powder. SEM analysis of the SVO products indicated that the surface morphology was similar for each of the samples, with the dimensions of the rodlike particles depending on the form of silver used in the reaction. In addition, the degree of crystallinity of the samples depended strongly on the type of silver used in the reaction, as evidenced by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. All of the samples were analyzed by DSC, chemical analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, resistivity measurements, and electrical discharge tests of Li/SVO test cells. The experimental capacities and pulse power capabilities of the SVO samples prepared under an air atmosphere were all almost identical, while the samples synthesized under an inert atmosphere displayed a significant decrease in delivered capacity and pulse power capability.