Deciphering Unexplored Reversible Potassium Storage and Small Volume Change in a CaV4O9 Anode with In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Vanadium-based compounds are explored as promising electrode materials in lithium/sodium-ion batteries exhibiting superior energy storage properties. However, similar attempts are rarely reported for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), in which the fundamental reaction mechanisms remain inexplicit. Herein, porous CaV₄O₉ nanobelts (NBs) are selected as a PIB anode to systematically investigate potassium storage mechanisms through in situ transmission electron microscopy. In situ measurements track overall electrochemical potassiation reactions of CaV₄O₉ and identify a polyphase state of V₄O₇, CaO, and K₂O phases after potassiation. Unexpectedly, the potassiated products can be partially converted back to the original CaV₄O₉ phase with residual VO₂ and CaO phases, which is different from the irreversible phase transformations in lithium/sodium storages of CaV₄O₉. Impressively, the cavities in NBs alternately disappear and appear with (de)potassiation, avoiding the drastic volume change and structural degradation of anodes. The reversible potassium storage and stable cycling are evaluated by electrochemical measurements and in situ X-ray diffraction analysis. This work provides a paradigm by revisiting the existing anode materials in lithium/sodium-ion batteries to seek out viable anodes for next-generation PIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]