Yuanxiang Gu

A hybrid binder is developed by mixing cellulose and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Hydrogen bonds formed between the hydroxyl groups of cellulose and the fluorine atoms of PVDF enhance the hydrophilicity of the cathode and suppress vanadium dissolution, thereby significantly improving the electrochemical performance of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). The battery not only exhibits a high specific capacity (310 mA h g^-1) but also has a high capacity retention rate (82.3%) over 3000 cycles; their performances are better than those of batteries prepared with PVDF and cellulose alone as binders. In contrast, the B1-based battery exhibits a specific capacity of 156 mAh g^-1 with a capacity retention of 70.9%, while the B2-based battery shows a capacity of 243 mAh g^-1 with 72.5% retention. This direction not only helps to improve the electrochemical performance of ZIBs but also promotes the widespread use of environmentally friendly, renewable materials in battery technology.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) in view of their tunable molecular structures, high porosity, and cost-effectiveness. However, their applications are severely hindered by the inferior structure stability, low conductivity, and limited number of redox-active centers. Here, we well-design a three-dimensional (3D) conductive copper–organic framework (Cu-TAPT) cathode material with dual electroactive sites for high-performance ZIBs. The Cu-TAPT cathodes are composed of in-plane one-dimensional π-d conjugated chains and strong π–π interactions between adjacent chains, which are further bridged by another column of stacked chains by tetrahedral coordination to form an extended 3D structure. The redox chemistry of both Cu²⁺ ions and conjugated carbonyl of Cu-TAPT cathodes achieves reversible Zn²⁺/H⁺ synergistic storage. As a result, the Cu-TAPT cathode delivers a high reversible capacity of 273.1 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹, superior rate performance, and a high capacity retention over 75% after 1000 cycles. This work will provide a new philosophy to design advanced organic materials for aqueous ZIBs and beyond.

AZIBs were prepared using Al-doped V ₂ O ₃ as the cathode material. The doping of Al introduced more oxygen vacancies, significantly promoting the phase transition process, and enabling the batteries to exhibit excellent electrochemical performance.

Ru-Ni ₂ P@CN was synthesized by 'hydrothermal reaction-Ru solution impregnation-phosphating' using Vb ₁₂ as nitrogen source and carbon source. In addition, a large amount of Ru doping and tensile strain were successfully introduced into the catalyst.

In this article, waste shell is directly used as a raw material to synthesize CaV₃O₇ as a cathode for aqueous zinc ion batteries. The obtained cathode material exhibits better performance than that of CaV₃O₇ prepared from pure calcium carbonate as a raw material. At 0.1 A g⁻¹, the CaV₃O₇ prepared by spent shell as a calcium source displays a highly reversible discharge capacity of 373 mA h g⁻¹. A high initial discharge capacity of 177.7 mA h g⁻¹ can be gained at 5.0 A g⁻¹, and the specific capacity remains at 133.3 mA h g⁻¹ with a capacity retention of 75% after 3000 cycles. This work may spark inspiration for energy storage and generate more effective routes for recycling solid waste.

The current density of the N-Ru₂P@Ru catalyst (963 mA cm⁻²) with a core–shell structure at an overpotential of 150 mV is 2.6 times that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst (359 mA cm⁻²).