Performance of tri-metallic Zn-ion battery cathode using hybrid morphology of VO2/CuWO4 nanocomposite

Abstract

The depletion of fossil fuel supplies has resulted in an energy crisis that may be addressed by electrochemical energy storage technologies, namely Zn-ion batteries. These batteries are appealing because of their safety, economic efficiency, and potential for high energy density. Nonetheless, their success hinges on the development of sophisticated cathode materials with improved Zn²⁺ intercalation properties. Vanadium-based nanomaterials have surfaced as promising contenders in this domain. A new method for synthesizing VO₂ nanowires and a strategy to improve their cathode performance by including a multifunctional CuWO₄ compound are presented in this paper. With an outstanding specific capacity of 479.8 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.3 A g⁻¹, this study presents the first VO₂/CuWO₄ nanocomposite for use as a cathode material in Zn-ion batteries. More importantly, it maintains 85% of its functionality even after 1000 cycles. A comparison of the nanocomposite's initial dimensions to those of the VO₂ and CuWO₄ components shows a significant reduction, according to scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The reduction in size is believed to enhance VO₂ and CuWO₄'s synergistic interaction, which in turn causes favorable pseudo-capacitive behavior via a combination of diffusion-controlled and capacitive-controlled processes.