Multi-active site zinc-based metal-organic frameworks-interlinked carbon: a high-performance cathode for rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracting a lot of interest for energy storage applications because of their individual advantages such as high energy density, environmental friendliness and safety. Nevertheless, progress in the development of high-performance cathodes is still limited by poor reversibility and slow Zn²⁺ diffusion dynamics, which result in insufficient rate performance and low specific capacity. In this article, nano-carbon black (VXC-72R/C) is composited with zinc-based metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF) and used as the cathode for high-performance AZIBs. The constructed Zn-MOF@C framework exhibits a maximum specific capacity of approximately 189.57 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 500 mA g⁻¹, and retains about 84.9 % capacity retention after 2000 continuous cycles, with no significant loss in coulombic efficiency (CE). The introduction of nanoscale carbon black provides more active sites for the storage of Zn²⁺, thereby improving its specific capacity. This study offers new perspectives on the design and fabrication of MOF-based cathodes for AZIBs.