Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) are currently the most promising energy storage systems used in wide range of applications from portable electronic devices to electric vehicles. Tungsten oxide (WO₃) has recently been studied as anode material for LIB due to its high theoretical capacity of 693 mAhg^-1 and four times higher volumetric capacity than that of graphite. Due to its high melting point (1473 °C) and strong mechanical stability, WO₃ could be used as safe anode material for LIB. However, large first cycle irreversibility as well as long-term cyclic stability are the major bottlenecks associated with this material. Several approaches like controlling morphology, creating oxygen vacancy and composite with carbon materials have been tried to overcome these problems.

Herein, we have investigated the effect of carbon nanohorns (CNH) addition on the irreversibility and long-term cyclic stability of WO₃. CNH is a well-studied material as a composite with metal oxides, enhances the cyclic stability of metal oxides due to its good electric conductivity, large surface area and mechanical strength. WO₃ was synthesized via microwave synthesis method and CNH were prepared by arc-discharge method. Both the materials were characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, BET analysis, SEM and TEM. WO₃ showed spherical morphology with a uniform particle size of <200 nm. Pure WO₃ showed first discharge capacity of 887 mAhg^-1 at a current density 50 mAg^-1 in a voltage range between 0.05 and 3.0V. It showed a capacity of ~235 mAhg^-1 after 100 cycles. Electrochemical performance of WO₃ was studied by addition of 10, 20, 30 wt% of CNH. Among all, 30 wt % CNH composite electrode exhibited a first discharge capacity of ~998 mAhg^-1 and a capacity of ~650 mAhg^-1 after 100 cycles at a current density 50 mAg^-1. The electrochemical performance of the composites with 10 and 20 wt% of CNH have also been studied. The results of the rate capability and long-term stability of the composites will be discussed in detail during the presentation.