LAUSR

Self-assembled mesoporous Nb2O5 has been successfully synthesized by template free one-pot method followed by annealation treatment. The morphological and textural characterization with field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and N2 sorption analyses reveal the formation of interconnected mesoporous Nb2O5 with pores average size ~5 nm without using any templates or porogens. When used as anode material in lithium ion battery (LIB), the mesostructured Nb2O5 material exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance with discharge capacity of 182 mA h g−1 (against theoretical capacity of 200 mA h g−1) even after 210 cycles at 0.5 C rate with columbic efficiency ~99.0%. At 1 C rate, Nb2O5 constructed electrode shows high electrode stability up to 850 cycles of repeated charge/discharges. The impressive capacity retention and the rate capability of porous Nb2O5 are attributed to the (i) interconnected porous structure providing favourable electrode/electrolyte interface as well as Li insertion/extraction kinetics and (ii) operation of combined intercalative and capacitive charge storage mechanism.