Suitable
intercalation cathodes and fundamental insights into the
Zn-ion storage mechanism are the crucial factors for the booming development
of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Herein, a novel nickel vanadium oxide
hydrate (Ni0.25V2O5·0.88H2O) is synthesized and investigated as a high-performance electrode
material, which delivers a reversible capacity of 418 mA h g–1 with 155 mA h g–1 retained at 20 A g–1 and a high capacity of 293 mA h g–1 in long-term
cycling at 10 A g–1 with 77% retention after 10,000
cycles. More importantly, multistep phase transition and chemical-state
change during intercalation/deintercalation of hydrated Zn2+ are illustrated in detail via in situ/ex situ analytical techniques
to unveil the Zn2+ storage mechanism of the hydrated and
layered vanadium oxide bronze. Furthermore, morphological development
from nanobelts to hierarchical structures during rapid ion insertion
and extraction is demonstrated and a self-hierarchical process is
correspondingly proposed. The unique evolutions of structure and morphology,
together with consequent fast Zn2+ transport kinetics,
are of significance to the outstanding zinc storage capacity, which
would enlighten the mechanism exploration of the aqueous rechargeable
batteries and push development of vanadium-based cathode materials.
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