Recent advances of vanadium-based cathode materials for zinc-ion batteries

Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) have gained great attention as promising next-generation power sources, because of their low cost, enviable safety and high theoretical capacity. Recently, massive researches have been devoted to vanadium-based materials as cathodes in ZIBs, owing to their multiple valence states, competitive gravimetric energy density, but the capacity degradation, sluggish kinetics, low operating voltage hinder further optimization of their performance in ZIBs. This review summarizes recent progress to increase the interlayer spacing, structural stability, and the diffusion ability of the guest Zn ions, including the insertion of different ions, introduction of defects, design of diverse morphologies, the combination of other materials. We also focus on approaches to promoting the valuable performance of vanadium-based cathodes, along with the related ongoing scientific challenges and limitations. Finally, the future perspectives and research directions of vanadium-based aqueous ZIBs are provided. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.