Hetero-valent dual cations engineering enables stable zinc ion storage in vanadium pentoxide

This research proposes a synergistic ion-doping strategy to successfully synthesize a Li + /Al 3+ dual-doped V 2 O 5 (LAVO) aqueous zinc-ion cathode material via a solution combustion method. Experiments demonstrate that co‑doping with Li + and Al 3+ jointly increases the V 4+ ratio and oxygen vacancy concentration, thereby enhancing electronic conductivity. Meanwhile, Al 3+ acts as a rigid interlayer pillar, while Li + serves as a flexible lubricant - together they strengthen interlayer bonding, create expanded diffusion channels, and improve electronic conductivity. This synergistic effect constructs an expanded dual-network structure featuring “optimized intra‑layer electron transport and stabilized interlayer ion channels”. As a result, LAVO achieves a discharge specific capacity of 193 mA h g −1 at a current density of 4 A g −1 , with a capacity retention of 97 % after 2000 cycles - significantly superior to undoped V 2 O 5 (45 %). Kinetic analysis confirms a 47 % reduction in charge-transfer resistance and an increased apparent ion-diffusion coefficient in the dual‑doped system. This work achieves precise regulation of the structure and performance of vanadium‑based oxides through a multi-ion synergistic doping strategy, offering a novel approach for designing high‑stability cathode materials for zinc‑ion batteries.