Rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) with high energy densities appear promising to meet the increasing demand for safe and sustainable energy storage devices. However, electrode research on this low-cost and green system are faced with stiff challenges of identifying materials that permit divalent ion-intercalation/deintercalation. Herein, we present layered-type LiV3O8 (LVO) as a prospective intercalation cathode for zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) with high storage capacities. The detailed phase evolution study during Zn intercalation using electrochemistry, in situ XRD, and simulation techniques reveals the large presence of a single-phase domain that proceeds via a stoichiometric ZnLiV3O8 phase to reversible solid–solution Zn y LiV3O8 (y > 1) phase. The unique behavior, which is different from the reaction with lithium, contributes to high specific capacities of 172 mAh g–1 and amounts to 75% retention of the maximum capacity achieved in 65 cycles with 100% Coulombic efficiency at a current density of 133 mA g–1. The remarkable performance makes the development of this low-cost and safe battery technology very promising, and this study also offers opportunities to enhance the understanding on electrochemically induced metastable phases for energy storage applications.

The development of new battery technologies requires them to be well-established given the competition from lithium ion batteries (LIBs), a well-commercialized technology, and the merits should surpass other available technologies’ characteristics for battery applications. Aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries (ARZIBs) represent a budding technology that can challenge LIBs with respect to electrochemical features because of the safety, low cost, high energy density, long cycle life, high-volume density, and stable water-compatible features of the metal zinc anode. Research on ARZIBs utilizing mild acidic electrolytes is focused on developing cathode materials with complete utilization of their electro-active materials. This progress is, however, hindered by persistent issues and consequences of divergent electrochemical mechanisms, unwanted side reactions, and unresolved proton insertion phenomena, thereby challenging ARZIB commercialization for large-scale energy storage applications. Herein, we broadly review two important cathodes, manganese and vanadium oxides, that are witnessing rapid progress toward developing state-of-the-art ARZIB cathodes.

Novel β-MnO2 nanorods with exposed (101) planes demonstrated high performance in Zn-ion cells.