VO2-C Cathode Material Prepared from Reduction of V2O5 by Citric Acid for Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries.

Designing and synthesizing cathode materials with high specific capacity and stability for aqueous zinc ion battery remains a significant challenge. In this study, citric acid was selected as the reducing agent for converting V₂O₅ to VO₂ with a carbon matrix using the hydrothermal method. The introduction of citric acid not only created a distinct microstructure in V⁴⁺ materials but also provided carbon matrix, which resulted in a fast diffusion of zinc ion and a good conductivity. This carbon containing vanadium-oxide material exhibited excellent electrochemical performance as a cathode material for aqueous zinc ion batteries, showing a high specific capacity of 399.33 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, and a capacity retention rate up to 98.3% after cycling for 1000 cycles at a high current density of 5 A g⁻¹. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]