Li+ intercalated V2O5•nH2O with enlarged layer spacing and fast ion diffusion as an aqueous zinc-ion battery cathode

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) show conspicuous potential in large-scale energy storage systems due to their cost-effectiveness and environmentally friendliness. Yet developmental cathodes in aqueous ZIBs suffer from sluggish Zn2+ diffusion kinetics. Herein, we introduce an effective strategy by the chemical intercalation of Li+ into the interlayer of V(2)O(5)nH(2)O, i.e. Li(x)V(2)O(5)nH(2)O (LVO), with enlarged layer spacing and fast Zn2+ diffusion. As a cathode in aqueous ZIBs with a 2 M ZnSO4 electrolyte, the cotton-like LVO-250 demonstrates high rate capacities and excellent cycling performance (232 mA h g(-1) after 500 cycles at 5 A g(-1), and 192 mA h g(-1) after 1000 cycles at 10 A g(-1)). The electrochemical reaction kinetics and zinc storage mechanism are investigated in detail.