Electrochemical reduction of silver vanadium phosphorous oxide Ag2VO2PO4: the formation of electrically conductive metallic silver nanoparticles

摘要

As a cathode material, silver vanadium phosphorous oxide (Ag2VO2PO4) displays several notable electrochemical properties: large capacity, high current capability, and an effective delivery of high current pulses. These cell performance characteristics can be attributed to the presence of silver nanoparticles formed in-situ during the electrochemical reduction of Ag2VO2PO4. Specifically, changes in the composition and structure of Ag2VO2PO4 with reduction, especially the formation of silver nanoparticles, are detailed to rationalize a 15,000 fold increase in conductivity with initial discharge, which can be related to the power characteristics associated with Ag2VO2PO4 cathodes in primary lithium batteries.