Engineering advanced Li1.2V3O8 composite electrodes for lithium batteries

Li1.2V3O8-based electrodes with a composition of 80% w/w Li1.2V3O8, 12% w/w carbon black and 8% w/w poly(methyl methacrylate) can be prepared from slurries with a solid content of 30% w/w in ethyl acetate, which is a more environmentally friendly solvent than tetrahydrofuran or N-methylpyrrolidone, by adding the ethylene carbonate plasticizer at an optimum concentration of 25% w/w of dried electrode and by using ball milling. The mixing sequence of the constituents was observed to be important. Ethylene carbonate improves dispersion of the Li1.2V3O8 grains and enhances the adhesion in the dry state to the current collector. A long-term cycling capacity of 250 mAh g(-1) was achieved.