VS₄/NCDs Nanowire as Efficient Cathode for Aqueous Rechargeable Zinc-Ion Batteries

VS₄ has emerged as a promising cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), attracting significant interest due to its unique layered atomic chain structure and high capacity. However, the low electrical conductivity of the material limits the diffusion rate of zinc ions, ultimately compromising its structural stability. In this study, we demonstrate the synthesis of nanowires through a simple hydrothermal recombination of carbon dots on vanadium sulfide. The distinctive layered structure of VS₄, in conjunction with nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs), increases the number of available active sites, thereby enhancing the conductivity of VS₄/NCDs. VS₄/NCDs cathode exhibits high specific capacity of 110 mAh g^-1 at 5 A g^-1 and superior rate performance in ZnSO₄ electrolytes, significantly outperforming that of the layered VS₄ cathode.