Tungsten Trioxide (WO3) Nanoparticles as a New Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Tungsten trioxide (WO3) is investigated for the first time as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries. Pristine WO3 displays a discharge potential plateau at 1 V and exhibits a 1st discharge cycle sodium storage capacity of 640 mAh g-1. Electronic wiring of WO3 with graphene oxide (GO, 1% by weight) led to a significant increase in the storage capacity and cyclability of WO3. As a result, the discharge capacity of 1% GO-WO3 is enhanced to 927 mAh g-1 in the 1st discharge cycle. The electrochemical intercalation of Na in to WO3 and (1%) GO-WO3 as obtained from galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling is also supported by cyclic voltammetry.