ZnVO/NC hybrid microspheres self-assembled by layered porous nanosheets as a superior anode material for lithium/sodium-ion batteries.

Zinc-vanadium oxides have been attracting increasing consideration as anode materials for lithium/sodium-ion batteries (LIBs and SIBs) recently. Present applications are hampered by issues, including their inferior electric conductivity and enormous volume variation. Herein, nitrogen-doped carbon wrapped ZnVO (ZnVO/NC) microspheres composed of abundant nanosheets were developed as an anode material by a self-assembly strategy and subsequent surface decoration. The resulting ZnVO/NC porous hybrid exhibited a high specific capacity, impressive rate capability, and long-term cycling stability for both LIBs and SIBs. Notably, the superior electrochemical properties could be assigned to novel meso/microporous features, hybrid nitrogen-doped carbon, and mixed storage mechanisms.