Sustainable Cathodic Performances of VS₄ in Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries by Cobalt Substitution

Abstract

Vanadium tetrasulfide (VS 4 ) is one of the most promising cathodic materials for rechargeable magnesium battery systems (RMBSs). Elemental substitution to expand layers, creation of sulfur vacancies, and reduction of particle sizes of VS 4 are undoubtedly effective strategies to enhance cathodic performances. Experimental and DFT analysis revealed that valence states of vanadium and cobalt have been elevated from V 2+ to V 3+ and Co 2+ to Co 3+ in VS 4 and that the Co−S bond length shortened due to cobalt substitution, which resulted in enhanced overall internal polarization in the layered atomic structure of VS 4 by increasing cobalt concentrations. This phenomenon of charge accumulation contributes toward regulated magnesiation and accommodated volume expansion while cycling, resulting in the enormous structural stability of VS 4 and sustainable battery performance during a long and stable cycling at a cost of 20% capacity diminution as compared to pristine VS 4 in RMBS. Hence, 9% CoVS 4 demonstrated a capacity of 158 mAh g −1 at a current density of 500 mA g −1 with approximately 98% capacity retention after 1000 cycles. Sustainable cathodic performance is the most desirous feature for commercialization. This work provides insight realization regarding structural limitations and opportunities of VS 4 for sustainable cathodic performances in RMBS with non-nucleophilic 0.25 mol/L (R-PhOMgCI) 2 -A1Cl 3 /THF (PMC) electrolyte and has laid a theoretical plus experimental foundation for future developments.