Towards high-performance cathodes: Design and energy storage mechanism of vanadium oxides-based materials for aqueous Zn-ion batteries

Aqueous rechargeable Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) have regarded as promising secondary chemical battery system because of the excellent safety, low cost and environmental friendliness. Nonetheless, it is still a great challenge to exploit suitable cathode materials for the insertion of zinc ions. The vanadium oxides-based materials are regarded as hopeful cathode materials of AZIBs because of their various co-ordination numbers and oxidation states. Especially, the hydrated, monovalent (divalent)-cations co-preinserted vanadium oxides show more excellent electrochemical performance because of the enlarged interlayer space. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the energy storage mechanisms and research development of various efficient ways to improve electrochemical performance for vanadium oxides-based compounds is presented. Finally, some insights into the future developments, challenges, and prospects of vanadium oxides-based compounds for AZIBs are proposed. This review illustrates electrochemical reaction mechanism of vanadium oxides-based compounds for AZIBs, and benefits the discovery of new AZIBs cathode materials, gives a novel viewpoint to shed light on the future innovation in vanadium oxides-based cathode materials, then facilitates the fast development and large-scale applications of AZIBs. The article will provide useful guidance for future design and construction of highperformance cathode materials for AZIBs. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Vanadium oxides-based materials are considered promising cathode materials for AZIBs, with hydrated and co-preinserted cations showing enhanced electrochemical performance. Extensive research has been done on various efficient ways to improve the performance of these materials. The review provides insights into future developments and challenges in the field of vanadium oxides-based compounds for AZIBs.