Vanadium dissolution inhibition strategy for vanadium oxide materials in aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Abstract

Vanadium oxides facilitate the reversible intercalation and deintercalation of zinc ions, which is essential for achieving high-performance energy storage devices. Consequently, they are considered promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). However, a significant challenge associated with vanadium-based materials in AZIBs is the dissolution of vanadium species. This phenomenon occurs during battery operation when vanadium dissolves into the electrolyte, resulting in the loss of active material and a gradual decline in battery performance over time. As aqueous zinc-ion batteries gain increasing prominence, the issue of vanadium dissolution has attracted considerable attention. To ensure the stable application of vanadium oxide materials in AZIBs, it is imperative to develop effective suppression strategies. In this context, this paper first introduces the crystal structures of several common vanadium oxides and provides an in-depth analysis of the dissolution mechanism of vanadium in AZIBs. Subsequently, this paper proposes various suppression strategies from three perspectives: electrolyte optimization, cathode material modification, and separator enhancement. Additionally, the potential of cathode materials and separators as mainstream suppression strategies is also discussed.