Acetonitrile mediated facile synthesis and self-assembly of silver vanadate nanowires into 3D spongy-like structure as a cathode material for lithium ion battery

We report the facile, one-step acetonitrile-mediated synthesis and self-assembly of beta-AgVO3 nanowires into three-dimensional (3D) porous spongy-like hydrogel (similar to 4 cm diameter) as cathode material for lithium ion battery of high performance and long-term stability. 3D structures made with superlong, very thin, and monoclinic beta-AgVO3 nanowires exhibit high specific discharge capacities of 165 mAh g(-1) in the first cycle and 100 mAh g(-1) at the 50th cycle, with a cyclic capacity retention of 53% at a current density of 50 mA g(-1). 3D structures are synthesized by reaction between ammonium vanadate and silver nitrate solution containing 5 mL of acetonitrile followed by a hydrothermal treatment at 200 degrees C for 12 h. Acetonitrile (used here for the first time in the silver vanadate synthesis) plays an important role in the self-assembly of the silver vanadate nanowires. A tentative growth mechanism for the 3D structure and lithium ions intercalation into beta-AgVO3 nanowires has been discussed and described.