Quench-tailored Al-doped V_(2)O_(5) nanomaterials for efficient aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs)are regarded as a promising competition to lithium-ion batteries as energy storage devices,owing to their high safety and low cost.However,the development of high-performance ZIBs is largely hindered by the shortage of ideal cathode materials with high-rate capability and long-cycle stability.Herein,we address this bottleneck issue by the quenching-tailored surface chemistry of V_(2)O_(5) cathode nanomaterial.By rapid quenching from high temperatures,Al ions are doped into V_(2)O_(5) lattice(Al-V_(2)O_(5))and abundant oxygen vacancies are formed on the surface/nearsurface,which facilitate the desired rapid electron transfers.Our density functional theory(DFT)simulations elucidate that the doping of Al ions into V_(2)O_(5) remarkably reduces the Zn^(2+)-diffusion barriers and improves the electrical conductivity of V_(2)O_(5).As a proof-of-concept application,the thus-optimized AlV_(2)O_(5) cathode delivers a superior specific capacity of 532 m Ah g^(-1) at 0.1 A g^(-1) and a long-cycling life with76%capacity retention after 5000 cycles,as well as a good rate performance.This work provides not only a novel strategy for tuning the surface chemistry of V_(2)O_(5) to boost the Zn^(2+)storage but also a general pathway of modifying metal oxides with improved electrochemical performance.