Micro Fe-doped V2O5 as cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion battery application

Aqueous energy storage system has attracted great attention considering the merits of low-cost and high security. Herein, the nanobelt structured micro Fe-doped V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O is synthesized through nanoconfinement strategy by intercalating heteroatoms into the layer of V 2 O 5 . Benefiting from the proper structural parameter and interplanar spacing , the Fe 0.13 V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O shows high specific capacity (427.3 mAh g −1 at 0.3 A g −1 ) in 2 M Zn(CF 3 SO 3 ) 2 electrolyte and competitive cycling performance (nearly no capacity decay after 1000 cycles). More deeply Zn 2+ storage mechanisms are researched by kinetic investigation, ex-situ XRD , ex-situ XPS test and DFT calculations . These encouraging electrochemical results imply the great potential of Fe/V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O in Zn 2+ storage applications. • Fe-V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O was successfully fabricated through nanoconfinement strategy. • The Zn 2+ storage mechanism is analyzed by kinetic and DFT method. • Fe 0.13 V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O shows capacity of 427.3 mAh g −1 at 0.3 A g −1 in 2 M Zn(CF 3 SO 3 ) 2 . • Fe 0.13 V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O shows 102 % capacity retention after 1000 cycles.