Thermolysis-Driven Growth of Vanadium Oxide Nanostructures Revealed by Transmission Electron Microscopy: Implications for Battery Applications.

Understanding the growth modes of 2D transition-metal oxides through direct observation is of vital importance to tailor these materials to desired structures. Here, we demonstrate thermolysis-driven growth of 2D VO nanostructures via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Various growth stages in the formation of 2D VO nanostructures through thermal decomposition of a single solid-state NHVO precursor are unveiled during the TEM heating. Growth of orthorhombic VO 2D nanosheets and 1D nanobelts is observed in real time. The associated temperature ranges in thermolysis-driven growth of VO nanostructures are optimized through and heating. Also, the phase transformation of VO to VO was revealed in real time by TEM heating. The thermolysis results were reproduced using heating, which offers opportunities for upscaling the growth of vanadium oxide-based materials. Our findings offer effective, general, and simple pathways to produce versatile 2D VO nanostructures for a range of battery applications.