Superior wide-temperature lithium storage in a porous cobalt vanadate

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) that can be operated under extended temperature range hold significant application potentials. Here in this work, we successfully synthesized Co₂V₂O₇ electrode with rich porosity from a facile hydrothermal and combustion process. When applied as anode for LIBs, the electrode displayed excellent stability and rate performance in a wide range of temperatures. Remarkably, a stable capacity of 206 mAh·g⁻¹ was retained after cycling at a high current density of 10 A·g⁻¹ for 6,000 cycles at room temperature (25 °C). And even when tested under extreme conditions, i.e., −20 and 60 °C, the battery still maintained its remarkable stability and rate capability. For example, at −20 °C, a capacity of 633 mAh·g⁻¹ was retained after 50 cycles at 0.1 Ag⁻¹; and even after cycling at 60 °C at 10 A·g⁻¹ for 1,000 cycles, a reversible capacity of 885 mAh·g⁻¹ can be achieved. We believe the development of such electrode material will facilitate progress of the next-generation LIBs with wide operating windows. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].