Bio-Template Synthesis of V 2 O 3 @Carbonized Dictyophora Composites for Advanced Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

In terms of new-generation energy-storing devices, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are becoming the prime candidates because of their inexpensive nature, inherent safety, environmental benignity and abundant resources. Nevertheless, due to a restrained selection of cathodes, AZIBs often perform unsatisfactorily under long-life cycling and high-rate conditions. Consequently, we propose a facile evaporation-induced self-assembly technique for preparing V 2 O 3 @carbonized dictyophora (V 2 O 3 @CD) composites, utilizing economical and easily available biomass dictyophora as carbon sources and NH 4 VO 3 as metal sources. When assembled in AZIBs, the V 2 O 3 @CD exhibits a high initial discharge capacity of 281.9 mAh g -1 at 50 mA g -1 . The discharge capacity is still up to 151.9 mAh g -1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A g -1 , showing excellent long-cycle durability. The extraordinary high electrochemical effectiveness of V 2 O 3 @CD could be mainly attributed to the formation of porous carbonized dictyophora frame. The formed porous carbon skeleton can ensure efficient electron transport and prevent V 2 O 3 from losing electrical contact due to volume changes caused by Zn 2+ intercalation/deintercalation. The strategy of metal-oxide-filled carbonized biomass material may provide insights into developing high-performance AZIBs and other potential energy storage devices, with a wide application range.