The electrochemical behavior of molybdenum oxide cathode materials with stoichiometries between
MoO2
and
MoO3
in nonaqueous lithium secondary cells are examined. Of the oxides
Mo4O11
,
Mo17O47
,
false(Mo0.92V0.08)5O14
,
Mo8O23
, and
Mo9O26
the greatest reversible capacity (>1 Li/Mo) after several deep discharge/charge cycles was exhibited by
Mo17O47
in cells with a
LiClO4/normalpropylene normalcarbonate
electrolyte. Excepting
Mo4O11
, which gives a reversible capacity of >0.75 Li/Mo after 20 deep discharge/charge cycles, the reversible capacities of the other molybdenum oxides are considerably less than that of
Mo17O47
. The limiting reversible lithium capacity of 1.5 Li/Mo for
Mo17O47
was determined by treating
Mo17O47
with an n‐butyllithium solution and the lithium bronze formed with an
I2
solution. For an average cell voltage of 1.85V and a capacity of 1.5 Li/Mo, the theoretical energy density of
Mo17O47
(∼490 W‐hr/ kg) is comparable to that reported for
TiS2
and stoichiometric
V6O13
. The magnetic properties of both
Mo17O47
false(MoO2.765false)
and the lithium bronze
Li1.41MoO2.765
were also investigated and are discussed.