Hard-template-engaged formation of Co 2 V 2 O 7 hollow prisms for lithium ion batteries.

Highly uniform and monodispersed Co 2 V 2 O 7 hollow nanoprisms are successfully fabricated via a simple hard-template-engaged strategy. In such synthesis, Co acetate hydroxide plays the important role of not only the cobalt source, but also the sacrificial template. After coating with a carbon layer, the as-obtained Co 2 V 2 O 7 hollow nanoprisms exhibit apparently enhanced lithium-ion-battery performances. It has shown a high specific capacity of around 946 mA h g -1 at a current density of 100 mA g -1 , excellent cycling stability up to 300 cycles at a current density of 1 A g -1 , and superior rate performance, which is much better than carbon coated solid Co 2 V 2 O 7 samples.