Synthesis of V2O3/C composites with different morphologies by a facile route and phase transition properties of the compounds

V2O3 and amorphous carbon composites (V2O3/C composites) with different morphologies (e.g. nanospheres, nanorods and nanosheets) were, for the first time, successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal route and subsequent calcination. The as-obtained samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometery (EDS), elemental analysis (EA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The morphology of V2O3/C composites could be easily controlled by varying the reaction time, and, as a result, V2O3/C composites with nanospheres, nanorods and nanosheets were selectively synthesized. Furthermore, the phase transition property of V2O3/C composites was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), suggesting that V2O3/C composites exhibit the phase transition similar to V2O3, which could expand the potential applications of materials related to V2O3 in the future.