Electrochemically grown highly crystalline single-phase Ni3P superstructure accelerating ionic diffusion in rechargeable Ni–Zn battery

Zn-based aqueous batteries become a highlighted field in worldwide research on rechargeable energy storage systems due to their significant merits as safe and cost-effective technology. However, the lack of proper cathode materials having sufficient accessible channels for ionic diffusion in order to achieve excellent power delivery, higher energy storage capacity and good cycle stability challenge their use in practical application. Herein, we demonstrate electrodeposited porous Ni3P superstructures on activated carbon cloth (CC*) as a robust cathode material towards enhanced Ni–Zn aqueous battery technology. The as-deposited Ni3P exhibiting internal porous network with fully exposed active sites accelerates the electrode kinetics by providing affluent channels for electron transfer. This unique structure of Ni3P electrode offers remarkable specific capacity of 258 mA h g−1 along with tremendous high-rate capability (maintains 81% at 11 A g−1). Moreover, the Ni3[email protected]*//[email protected]* battery is capable of showing a record-high specific capacity of 322 mA h g−1, power density 17.5 kW kg−1 and imposing energy density of 661.98 Wh kg−1. These results open a new avenue for developing an easy synthesis strategy for cathode materials of Ni–Zn batteries with boosted electrochemical activity toward affordable and practical energy storage.© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.