Electrospun vanadium-based oxides as electrode materials

Electrospinning is a nano-fabrication technique that easily produces ceramic oxide nanofibres which can find numerous applications as energy storage materials, such as battery electrodes. Vanadium oxide is a viable alternative electrode material with tuneable oxidation states and a layered structure that can reversibly intercalate charge carriers. This review examines the use of vanadium oxide as an electrode material for metal ion batteries with focus on electrospun derivatives. Vanadium oxide-based electrodes are predominantly considered in lithium ion batteries given the amount of published literature in this context. The use of vanadium oxide in energy storage devices, while promising, is limited by its low structural stability and slow electrochemical kinetics associated with charge carrier intercalation resulting in poor cycle stability. Doping with other metallic element and incorporation of carbon derivatives in vanadium oxides can potentially improve its cycle stability and rate retention. Vanadium oxide-based electrodes for sodium ion and aluminium ion batteries are also discussed to highlight its versatility in alternative metal ion battery systems.