Interlayer-expanded VS2 nanosheet: Fast ion transport, dynamic mechanism and application in Zn2+ and Mg2+/Li+ hybrid batteries systems

Currently, the development of polyvalent ions battery systems are still restricted by lacking suitable cathode materials with high energy density and long cycle life attributing to sluggish kinetic mechanism and of polyvalent ions. Herein, an effective inter-layer scaling strategy is proposed by using a simple hydrothermal method. The super layer spacing VS2 (∼1 nm) cathode dramatically improves electrochemical performance of zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) and magnesium/lithium hybrid ion batteries (MLIBs). The specific discharge capacities of ZIBs and MLIBs are 450.7 and 488.8 mA h g-1 at current density of 0.1 A g-1 which are much higher than the same type of battery systems. Finally, the diffusion mechanism and the corresponding theoretical model is established by adopting first principles. In brief, the work provides an effective strategy for the large scale application of multivalent and hybrid batteries systems.