The Flexibility of Pre-Embedding Na+ and PO43- in Layered V2O5 for High Capacity and Stability Zinc Ion Batteries

To address the challenge of balancing high conductivity, capacity, and long-cycle stability in V2O5 cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries, we introduce an innovative strategy of co-embedding cations and anions into the layered V2O5 structure. We synthesized Na and P co-embedded layered V2O5 materials and systematically investigated their morphological structure, elemental valence, and electrochemical properties using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical characterization. The synthesized material demonstrated a high capacity of 357.8 mAh·g-1 at 0.2 A·g-1 and a remarkable capacity retention of 107.7% after 2000 cycles at 4.0 A·g-1. These results highlight the synergistic effect of co-embedded ions and structured water, offering new insights into the insertion/extraction dynamics of pre-embedded ions, structured water, and zinc ions in layered V2O5.