Anthraquinone-intercalated V₂O₅ with Al³⁺ for superior zinc-ion batteries: reversible transformation between disorder and order

Abstract

Oxygen-deficient anthraquinone (AQ)-intercalated vanadium oxide (1,8-AQ)_0.08V₂O₅·0.25H₂O (AQ-VO) was synthesized hydrothermally, which displayed an improved rate capability with an ultralong lifespan in the electrolyte with Al³⁺ compared with that in the absence of Al³⁺. These features are associated with the dual-pillar of Al³⁺/AQ in AQ-VO and the dynamic reversible conversion between disorder and order on the (00<i>l</i>) facets. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations discover a small Zn²⁺ diffusion barrier of 0.47 eV in AQ-VO.