Optimizing engineering of rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries to enhance the zinc ions storage properties of cathode material

Zinc ion batteries (ZIBs), the classic aqueous batteries with high safety, are regarded as a promising energy storage system. The study on optimizing engineering of ZIBs is still quite rare. Herein, we take a representative ammonium vanadium bronze (NH4V4O10) for example to perform the optimizing engineering through selecting electrolytes and adjusting the proportion of conductive carbon in the electrode. As expected, the electrochemical performance of NH4V4O10 electrode after the optimizing engineering is significantly boosted. NH4V4O10-541 electrode (NH4V4O10 sample, acetylene black and poly(vinylidene fluoride) in a weight ratio of 50:40:10) can deliver a high reversible capacity of 430.0 mA h g(-1) at 0.1 A g(-1), a good rate capability (277.1 mA h g(-1) at 10 A g(-1)), and an excellent cycling stability (a specific capacity of 244.8 mA h g(-1) with 72.2% capacity retention after 3000 cycles at 10 A g(-1)), superior to the most of cathode materials for ZIBs. The optimizing engineering presented here should provide useful information to improve the electrochemical performance for ZIBs.

Automated summary

Optimizing engineering of NH4V4O10 electrode by selecting electrolytes and adjusting the proportion of conductive carbon significantly boosts its electrochemical performance. The NH4V4O10-541 electrode demonstrates high reversible capacity, good rate capability, and excellent cycling stability, surpassing most cathode materials for ZIBs.