NiFe-PBA seed-layer induced growth of NiFe-LDH nanosheets for efficient aqueous zinc-ion batteries

In this study, a single-crystalline NiFe-PBA film was first electrodeposited onto a nickel foam substrate, followed by a secondary electrodeposition step to grow NiFe-LDH nanosheets on the film. This composite structure facilitates electron transfer from NiFe-LDH to NiFe-PBA, thereby enhancing the electrical conductivity of the electrode material. Meanwhile, the high specific surface area of NiFe-LDH nanosheets provides more active sites. As a result, the fabricated aqueous zinc-ion battery achieves a specific capacity of 133.5 mAh/g at a current density of 0.3 A/g. In addition, the capacitance contribution of the NiFe-PBA electrode material was only 6%, while that of the NiFe-PBA@NiFe-LDH electrode material increased to 18% at a sweep rate of 10 mV/s. These findings demonstrate that the NiFe-PBA@NiFe-LDH composite is a promising cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries, offering a novel strategy for the development of high-performance cathodes in this field.