Ag decorated V2O5 nanorods as cathode material for lithium ion battery

V₂O₅ nanorods embedded with Ag nanoparticles were prepared by a simple ionic liquid-assisted low-temperature hydrothermal method using methyl imidazole at 130 °C for 24 h. The obtained product has been characterized using XRD which shows orthorhombic phase of V₂O₅ with small amount of Ag having the average crystallite size of 25 nm. From the Raman spectrum, stretching vibration of V=O is observed at 998 cm⁻¹. UV–DRS shows the energy gap of 2.41 eV. SEM images show fiber-like structure along with spherical particles. TEM images clearly show the presence of Ag particles embedded on the surface of V₂O₅ nanorods and average thickness/diameter of nanorods was found to be 30 nm with micrometer in length. Ag decorated V₂O₅ nanorods is used as anode material for Li-ion batteries and observed that it exhibits an initial discharge specific capacity of 295 mAh g⁻¹ and its stabilized specific capacity reached to 182 mAh g⁻¹ after 50 cycles at a current rate of 0.1 C.