Building stabilized Cu0.17Mn0.03V2O5−□·2.16H2O cathode enables an outstanding room‐/low‐temperature aqueous Zn‐ion batteries

Abstract

Abstract Vanadium oxide cathode materials with stable crystal structure and fast Zn2+ storage capabilities are extremely important to achieving outstanding electrochemical performance in aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. In this work, a one‐step hydrothermal method was used to manipulate the bimetallic ion intercalation into the interlayer of vanadium oxide. The pre‐intercalated Cu ions act as pillars to pin the vanadium oxide (V‐O) layers, establishing stabilized two‐dimensional channels for fast Zn2+ diffusion. The occupation of Mn ions between V‐O interlayer further expands the layer spacing and increases the concentration of oxygen defects (Od), which boosts the Zn2+ diffusion kinetics. As a result, as‐prepared Cu0.17Mn0.03V2O5−□·2.16H2O cathode shows outstanding Zn‐storage capabilities under room‐ and low‐temperature environments (e.g., 440.3 mAh g−1 at room temperature and 294.3 mAh g−1 at −60°C). Importantly, it shows a long cycling life and high capacity retention of 93.4% over 2500 cycles at 2 A g−1 at −60°C. Furthermore, the reversible intercalation chemistry mechanisms during discharging/charging processes were revealed via operando X‐ray powder diffraction and ex situ Raman characterizations. The strategy of a couple of 3d transition metal doping provides a solution for the development of superior room‐/low‐temperature vanadium‐based cathode materials.

Keywords

• aqueous zinc‐ion batteries
• Cu0.17Mn0.03V2O5‐□·2.16H2O
• oxygen defects
• room‐/low‐temperature performance
• stabilized nanostructure