Electrode Performance of Vanadium Pentoxide Xerogel Prepared by Microwave Irradiation as an Active Cathode Material for Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries

Vanadium pentoxide xerogel was prepared by irradiation with microwaves and successfully applied as the active cathode material of a magnesium rechargeable battery. The structure and electrochemical properties of the V2O5 xerogel were investigated and compared with V2O5 prepared by conventional heat-treatment. X-ray diffraction revealed that the V2O5 xerogel prepared by MW irradiation has low crystalline structure. Charge-discharge tests revealed a specific capacity of 463 mAh g−1, which was much larger than of V2O5 prepared by conventional heat-treatment (190 mAh g−1).