Beschreibung:
<jats:p>Understanding how intercalation materials change during electrochemical operation is paramount to optimizing their behaviour and function and <jats:italic>in situ</jats:italic> characterization methods allow us to observe these changes without sample destruction. Here we first report the improved intercalation properties of bronze phase vanadium dioxide VO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> (B) prepared by a microwave-assisted route which exhibits a larger electrochemical capacity (232 mAh g<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>) compared with VO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> (B) prepared by a solvothermal route (197 mAh g<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>). These electrochemical differences have also been followed using <jats:italic>in situ</jats:italic> X-ray absorption spectroscopy allowing us to follow oxidation state changes as they occur during battery operation.</jats:p>