Valid design and evaluation of cathode and anode materials of aqueous zinc ion batteries with high-rate capability and cycle stability

Se Hun Lee, Juyeon Han, Tae Woong Cho, Gyung Hyun Kim, Young Joon Yoo, JuSang Park, Young Jun Kim, Eun Jung Lee, Sihyun Lee, Sungwook Mhin, Sang Yoon Park, Jeeyoung Yoo, and Sang-Hwa Lee
Nanoscale, 15(8), 3737(2023)
DOI: 10.1039/d2nr06372g

Abstract

Although non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries have a high gravimetric density, aqueous zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs) have recently been in the spolight as an laternative, becuase ZIBs have characteristics such as high volumetric density, high ionic conductivity, eco friendliness, low cost, and high safety. Howeverm, the improvement in electrochemical performance is limited due to insufficient rate capability and severe cycle fading of the vanadium-oxide-based cathode and zinc-metal-based anode material, which are frequently used as active materials for ZIBs. In addition, complex methods are required to prepare high-performance cathode and anode materials. Therefore, a simple yet effective strategy is needed to obtain high-performance anodes and cathodes. Herein, an ammonium vanadate naonfiber (AVNF) intercalated with NH4+ and H2O as a cathode material for ZIBs was synthesized within 30 minutes through a facile sonochmical method. In addition, an effective Al2O3 layer of 9.9 nm was coated on the surface of zinc foil through an atomic layer deposition thchnique. AS a result, AVNF//60Al2O3@Zn batteries showed a high rate capability of 108 mA h g−1 even at 20 A g−1, and exhibited ultra- high cycle stability with a capacity retention of 94% even after 5000 cycles at a currung density of 10 A g−1.