Sol–gel synthesis of vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles in air- and water-stable ionic liquids

Vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) nanoparticles were synthesized at moderate reaction temperatures by hydrolysis of VO[OCH(CH₃)₂]₃ in two different air- and water-stable ionic liquids with the same anion: 1-butyl-1-methyl pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([Py_1,4]Tf₂N) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([EMIM]Tf₂N) via the sol–gel method using acetone and isopropanol either as refluxing solvents or as co-solvents. The cation type of the ionic liquid affects the crystallinity, morphology, and surface area of the produced nanoparticles: [Py_1,4]Tf₂N gave products with higher crystallinity especially with acetone as a refluxing and co-solvent, while [EMIM]Tf₂N gave a clear mesoporous morphology with isopropanol as a refluxing solvent. Ionic liquids affect the key factors (morphology and surface area) that make V₂O₅ an attractive material as catalyst and/or cathodic material for lithium ion batteries.