Nanoparticle Facilitated Charge Transfer and Voltage of a High Capacity VB₂ Anode

The storage of multiple electrons per molecule provides opportunities to greatly enhance electrochemical energy capacity. VB 2 releases, via electrochemical oxidation, 11 electrons per molecule at a favorable, electrochemical potential. Coupled with an air cathode, this 4060 mAh/g intrinsic capacity anode, has energy capacity greater than that of gasoline. Nanochemical improvements of VB 2 are probed to facilitate charge transfer and discharge voltage. Nanoparticle formation is accomplished with a planetary ball mill media (tungsten carbide) with hardness comparable to that of VB 2 (8–9 Mohs 2 ). Mechanochemical synthesized, VB 2 nanorods, exhibit higher voltage, sustain higher rate, and depth of discharge than macroscopic VB 2 .