Aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries (ARZBs) are desirable for energy storage devices owing to their low cost and abundance of the Zn anode, but their further development is limited by a dearth of ideal cathode materials that can simultaneously possess high capacity and stability. Herein, we employ a layered structure of ammonium vanadium bronze (NH4)0.5V2O5 as the cathode material for ARZBs. The large interlayer distance supported by the NH4+ insertion not only facilitates the Zn2+-ion intercalation/deintercalation but also improves the electrochemical stability in ARZBs. As a result, the layered structural (NH4)0.5V2O5 cathode delivers a high capacity up to 418.4 mA h g-1 at a current density of 0.1 A g-1. A reversible capacity of 248.8 mA h g-1 is still retained after 2000 cycles and a capacity retention of 91.4% was maintained at 5 A g-1. Furthermore, in comparison with previously reported Zn-ion batteries, the Zn/(NH4)0.5V2O5 battery achieves a prominent high energy density of 418.4 W h kg-1 while delivering a high power density of 100 W kg-1. The results would enlighten and push the ammonium vanadium compounds to a brand new stage for the application of aqueous batteries.
Keywords: NH insertion; ammonium vanadium bronze; aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries; electrochemical stability; large interlayer distance.