Abstract
In this paper, the authors have investigated a suitable material for rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which poses a challenge to the researchers in the search for alternate electrode materials. An analysis of humidity as well as nitrite sensing application, the potential of this material has been reported. MoO3 can reversibly store large amounts of Li; it can be a potential alternative electrode among currently existing anode materials. The self-assembled hexagonal rods of h-MoO3 as flowers have been synthesized via a simple and facile low temperature reflux method. The measured mean crystallite size and band gap (E-g) of h-MoO3 hexagonal crystalline structure are 52 nm and 3.48 eV as per the XRD and UV-vis DRS studies respectively. Hexagonal rod shaped h-MoO3 anodes exhibit remarkable electrochemical stability, recyclability, high rate capability; which produce the initial discharge capacity of 1869 mAh g(-1)and then the capacity retained around 619 mAh g(-1) at 100(th) cycle of charge-discharge profile by applying the current rate of C/15. This simple and novel material synthesis provides unique morphology of hexagonal rods shaped h-MoO3 flowers; and this scheme provides the facile pathways which enable the ease of electron transportation. The sensing activity of modified glassy electrode of h-MoO3 has shown a limit of detection of 0.196 mu M for 1 mM nitrite sensing. It also showed high humidity sensing response of 97.9 %, and indicated that the h-MoO3 flowery material is well suitable for industrial applications.