High-performance aqueous zinc-ion battery cathodes: Enhanced performance with V2O5/graphene sandwich-like heterostructures featuring structural defects

Abstract

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered promising candidates for future energy storage systems because of their outstanding safety record, affordability, and environmentally friendly features. However, their practical application has been hindered by the limited performance of cathode materials. In this study, we present an innovative method to enhance the electrochemical performance of AZIB cathodes by constructing sandwich-like heterostructures of V2O5/graphene with structural defects. The resulting cathode material exhibits superior electrochemical properties, including a high specific capacity of 572.1 at 0.1 A g−1, outstanding rate capability, and long-term cycling stability. The capacity retention and the coulombic efficiency of the material were around 90.4% and 91.6%, respectively, even after 10 000 cycles at 5.0 A g−1. This research aims to provide valuable insights into designing advanced cathode materials for AZIBs, paving the way for their widespread commercialization.