Lamellar V5O12·6H2O Nanobelts Coupled with Inert Zn(OH)2·0.5H2O as Cathode for Aqueous Zn2+/Nonaqueous Na+ Storage Applications

Lamellar V 5 O 12 ·6H 2 O nanobelts coupled with inert Zn(OH) 2 ·0.5H 2 O are in situ fabricated via a facile hydrothermal strategy. Herein, the inert Zn(OH) 2 ·0.5H 2 O phase acts as a buffer matrix to strengthen the structural stability of V 5 O 12 ·6H 2 O host material, relieving the severe volume variation. Therefore, benefiting from the large interplanar spacing of active V 5 O 12 ·6H 2 O and volume buffering effect of inert Zn(OH) 2 ·0.5H 2 O, V 5 O 12 ·6H 2 O/Zn(OH) 2 ·0.5H 2 O hybrid (denoted as Z-V 5 O 12 ·6H 2 O) sustainably endures the repetitive Zn 2+ /Na + insertion/extraction and boosts the electrochemical properties. As cathodes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries, the Z-V 5 O 12 ·6H 2 O hybrid shows a high discharge capacity of 328 mAh g −1 at 50 mA g −1 and keeps 146 mAh g −1 at 1 A g −1 after 1000 cycles. For nonaqueous sodium-ion batteries, the hybrid also furnishes a high initial discharge capacity of 241 mAh g −1 at a current density of 50 mA g −1 and maintains 97 mAh g −1 at 100 mA g −1 after 100 cycles.