In-situ lithiated and shape-modified V2O5 nanorods as anode materials for high-performance Li-ion batteries and Li-ion capacitors

Vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) is a promising electrode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and lithium-ion capacitors (LICs), but its poor structural and electrochemical stability limits performance. This study presents a two-step hydrothermal method to synthesize in-situ lithiated V₂O₅ (PLVO) nanorods, transforming large, disordered particles into fine nanostructures. This method avoids the costly, time-consuming sintering and carbon coating process. The resulting flexible, free-standing PLVO electrode delivers excellent performance, achieving 276 mAh/g at 10C and 213 mAh/g at 20C. It maintains 383 mAh/g with 99.4 % coulombic efficiency and 79 % capacity retention after 850 cycles at 1C. In LICs, it provides a high specific capacitance of 153.95 F/g at 0.533 A/g, an energy density of 192.44 Wh/kg at 0.266 kW/kg, and 62.69 Wh/kg at 13.33 kW/kg, with 86.46 % retention after 10,000 cycles. These results highlight the PLVO electrode's strong rate capability, durability, and potential for flexible, high-performance energy storage devices.