An Innovative Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ Multistage Cubic Nanospheres Cathode for High‐Performance Bi//Zn Battery

Abstract

Alkaline Bi//Zn batteries with superb safety, low cost, and high power density are promising candidates for large‐scale electrical energy storage. However, their developments are severely limited by the Bi‐based cathode as the unsatisfying capacity and cycle life. Herein, an innovative multistage cubic nanospheres Bi12SiO20 (MCS‐Bi12SiO20) is successfully synthesized by a simple calcination method, which shows excellent energy storage performances of superior specific capacity (294 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1) and outstanding rate capability (134 mAh g−1 at 12 A g−1). When coupled with Zn anode a superior MCS‐Bi12SiO20//Zn is fabricated, which delivers a high energy density of 247.5 Wh kg−1 at the power density of 375 W kg−1. Additionally, the MCS‐Bi12SiO20//Zn battery shows excellent cycle life, which reserves more than 100 % of its original capacity after 5000 cycles. Such performance is higher than previously reported Bi//Zn battery and most other Zn batteries. This is the first example of using Bi12SiO20 as cathode for RAZBs, which may provide highly promising material towards better Bi//Zn battery.