Ce-doped NH₄V₄O₁₀ nanosheets anchored on carbon cloth: a high-performance cathode material for zinc-ion batteries

Ammonium vanadate emerges as a potential cathode candidate for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), attributed to its porous crystal lattice and remarkable theoretical capacity. However, its further development is impeded by the sluggish kinetics of Zn²⁺ embedding and instability in laminar flow. We developed a straightforward one-step hydrothermal method to fabricate Ce³⁺-doped NH₄V₄O₁₀ (NVO) nanosheets (CeNVO@CC) directly grown on carbon cloth substrates, achieving efficient material integration and enhanced electrochemical performance. The synthesized CeNVO@CC exhibits an advantageous nanoflower morphology that provides more active sites. Furthermore, the incorporation of Ce³⁺ enhances interlayer spacing, acts as interlayer support, and mitigates the electrostatic interactions between Zn²⁺ and the structure during charge/discharge cycles. This not only facilitates external embedding of Zn²⁺ but also contributes to structural stability. As a result, CeNVO@CC demonstrates superior reversible discharge specific capacity and cycle stability. Significantly, the CeNVO@CC composite demonstrated an exceptional specific capacity of 966.6 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1, and it retained a substantial capacity of 230.55 mAh g^-1 even at 5 A g^-1 after 5000 cycles, exhibiting superior electrochemical performance across various criteria.