Effect of cerium on electrochemical properties of V2O5 nanoparticles synthesized via non-aqueous sol-gel technique

Pure, 1%, 3%, and 5% of cerium-doped vanadium pentoxide (V 2 O 5 ) nanoparticles were synthesized by non-aqueous sol-gel route. Synthesized samples were employed to various characterizations such as structural, morphological, optical, and electrochemical studies using XRD, SEM, FTIR, RAMAN, and UV-Vis DRS and cyclic voltammetry, charge-discharge, and cycle stability for supercapacitor applications. XRD analysis revealed the phase purity and crystallinity of the powder samples with a crystallite size 89–84 nm. SEM images show that the synthesized nanoparticles are highly monodispersed and homogenous in size. FTIR and RAMAN spectra ensured the presence of functional groups in synthesized V 2 O 5 . Then, the UV-Vis DRS spectra depict that the synthesized nanoparticles are red shifted. Ce(5%):V 2 O 5 nanoparticles provided high specific capacitance about 555 Fg −1 at 1 Ag −1 and cycling stability up to 10,000 cycles with capacity retention up to 85% compared with pure, 1%, and 3% cerium-doped V 2 O 5 nanoparticles. Thus, cerium-doped V 2 O 5 nanoparticles were considered potential cathode materials for supercapacitor applications.