De-Ammonium Ba0.18V2O4.95/NH4V4O10 Film Electrodes as High-Performance Cathode Materials for Magnesium-Ion Batteries

Magnesium-ion batteries (MIBs) have been pushed into the research boom in the post-lithium-ion batteries era due to their low cost, no dendrite hazard, and high capacity. However, finding suitable cathode materials to improve the slow kinetics of Mg2+ is an ongoing challenge. In this work, Ba0.18V2O4.95/NH4V4O10 film electrodes were grown in one step on indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass using a low-temperature liquid-phase deposition method. Temperature was used as the probe condition, and it was concluded that the films annealed at 400 °C had suitable crystallinity and de-ammonium lattice space. At lower current density, with 0.5 M Mg(ClO4)2/PC as the electrolyte, it exhibited an initial discharge capacity of 130.99 mA h m-2 at 210 mA m-2 and 106.52% capacity retention after 100 cycles. In addition, it exhibited excellent electrochemical performance in long-term cycling (92.98% capacity retention after 300 cycles at 600 mA m-2). According to the results of ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), the removal of NH4+ created more lattice space, assisting Ba0.18V2O4.95 to increase the transfer channels of Mg2+, providing more active sites to promote diffusion kinetics (the average DMg2+ was 2.07 × 10-12 cm2 s-1) and specific capacity. Therefore, these film electrodes for scalable Mg2+ storage are promising MIB cathode candidates that exhibit good performance advantages in storage applications.

β-NaVO3 as a pseudocapacitive anode material for sodium-ion batteries

A NaVO3/Gr composite exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance in SIB.

Operando XAFS on Hydrated Calcium Vanadium Bronze Cathode for Aqueous Zn-ion Storage

Multivalent ion storage and aqueous electrochemical systems continue to build interest for energy application. The Zn-ion system with 2 electron transfer and an ideal metal anode is a strong candidate but is still at the early stage of development. Using both in situ near-edge (XANES) and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, EXAFS, a nanostructured cathode material, Ca_x V₂ O₅ -H₂ O (CVO), was probed at the V-K absorption edge. This operando study reveals the local electronic and geometric structure changes for CVO during galvanostatic cycling as the active material in an aqueous Zn-ion cell. The XANES data provides a fine resolution to track the evolution of the vanadium oxidative state and near-neighbor coordination sphere showing subtle shifts and delocalized charge. The Zn-ion influence on the V-K absorption edge is visualized using a difference technique called Δμ. Coupled with theoretical calculations and modelling, the extended region extracted local bonding information further confirms excellent electronic and structural reversibility of this vanadium oxide bronze in an aqueous Zn-ion electrochemical cell.

(NH4 )2 V7 O16 Microbricks as a Novel Anode for Aqueous Lithium-Ion Battery with Good Cyclability

Searching for novel anode materials to address the issues of poor cycle stability in the aqueous lithium-ion battery system is highly desirable. In this work, ammonium vanadium bronze (NH₄ )₂ V₇ O₁₆ with brick-like morphology has been investigated as an anode material for aqueous lithium-ion batteries and Li⁺ /Na⁺ hybrid ion batteries. The two novel full cell systems (NH₄ )₂ V₇ O₁₆ ||Li₂ SO₄ ||LiMn₂ O₄ and (NH₄ )₂ V₇ O₁₆ ||Na₂ SO₄ ||LiMn₂ O₄ both demonstrate good rate capability and excellent cycling performance. A capacity retention of 78.61 % after 500 cycles at 300 mA g^-1 was demonstrated in the (NH₄ )₂ V₇ O₁₆ ||Li₂ SO₄ ||LiMn₂ O₄ system, whereas no capacity attenuation is observed in the (NH₄ )₂ V₇ O₁₆ ||Na₂ SO₄ ||LiMn₂ O₄ system. The reaction mechanisms of the (NH₄ )₂ V₇ O₁₆ electrode and impedance variation of the two full cells were also researched. The excellent cycling stability suggests that layered (NH₄ )₂ V₇ O₁₆ can be a promising anode material for aqueous rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Flexible Zn-Ion Batteries: Recent Progresses and Challenges

To keep pace with the increasing pursuit of portable and wearable electronics, it is urgent to develop advanced flexible power supplies. In this context, Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) have garnered increasing attention as favorable energy storage devices for flexible electronics, owing to the high capacity, low cost, abundant resources, high safety, and eco-friendliness. Extensive efforts have been devoted to developing flexible ZIBs in the last few years. This work summarizes the recent achievements in the design, fabrication, and characterization of flexible ZIBs. Representative structures, such as sandwich and cable type, are particularly highlighted. Special emphasis is put on the novel design of electrolyte and electrode, which aims to endow reliable flexibility to the fabricated ZIBs. Moreover, current challenges and future opportunities for the development of high-performance flexible ZIBs are also outlined.