Tailoring vanadium oxide crystal orientation for high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Due to the increasing demand for higher security and low-cost energy storage systems, the main research focus has been developing a suitable substitute for lithium-ion batteries. Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered the best alternative to lithium-ion batteries in large-scale energy storage devices. Owing to its high capacity, vanadate is a promising cathode material for AZIBs. The crystallographic orientation of cathode materials dramatically influences the rate performance and cycling life. Here, Mg_0.57V₅O₁₂·2.3H₂O (MgVO) with favorable (001) crystal orientation and significantly improved electrochemical performance is prepared by a simple stirring method. The crystal growth orientations of MgVO are altered by adjusting the aging time of the reactant solution. The (001)-orientated grain growth of MgVO delivers a 232.5 mA h g^-1 capacity at 5 A g^-1 with a 94% capacity retention rate after 1400 cycles. The zinc ion storage performance of MgVO demonstrates that the orientation-controlled method can design effective cathode materials for high-performance ZIBs.