Integrating amorphous vanadium oxide into carbon nanofibers via electrospinning as high-performance anodes for alkaline ion (Li+/Na+/K+) batteries

To explore advanced anode materials with superior Li + /Na + /K + storage performances for alkaline ion batteries (AIBs), a hybrid of amorphous vanadium oxide uniformly embedded into the highly defective carbon nanofibers (denoted as VO x @CNFs) was fabricated via a facile electrospinning method followed by proper heat treatment in this work. The integrated structure synergistically combines the advantages of the amorphous VO x and the defective carbon matrices, which can not only bring abundant active sites for ion storage and multi-channels for ion diffusion, but also well accommodate the structural change induced electrode pulverization . When evaluated as anode materials for AIBs, the optimized VO x @CNFs demonstrate excellent alkaline ion storage performances with high-specific capacities, long-cycling life and high-rate capabilities, delivering a Na + storage capacity of 260 mAh g −1 at 1.0 A g −1 after 1000 cycles, a Li + storage capacity of 556 mAh g −1 at 0.5 A g −1 after 500 cycles, and a K + storage capacity of 198 mAh g −1 at 0.5 A g −1 after 400 cycles.