Chitosan-Assisted Fabrication of a Network C@V₂O₅ Cathode for High-Performance Zn-Ion Batteries

Vanadium oxide-based aqueous zinc-ion batteries exhibit promising potential due to their low cost and safety profiles. However, fabricating cathodes with outstanding electrochemical performance for Zn-ion batteries is still a challenge. Herein, network C@V₂O₅ materials were prepared using a mild chitosan-assisted hydrothermal process. Coin-type cells, using network C@V₂O₅ as a cathode, zinc film as an anode, and Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂ as an electrolyte, were also assembled, and the as-synthesized cathode delivered a high specific capacity of 361 mA h g^-1 at 0.5 A g^-1 and excellent cyclic stability. Specifically, after 2000 cycles, the capacity still remained about 71% of the initial value at 0.5 A g^-1. Moreover, ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterizations confirmed that Zn-ion storage in the cathode was achieved through the reversible intercalation/extraction of Zn²⁺ during the charge/discharge process. Therefore, the network C@V₂O₅ cathode demonstrated potential applications for zinc-ion batteries.