ZnVO(OH)·2HO/MXene cathode with fast ion diffusion for highly durable zinc ion batteries.

V-based materials are considered promising candidates as cathode materials for zinc ion batteries (ZIBs). However, the inherent low conductivity of V-based compounds leads to the sluggish diffusion kinetics of Zn and serious cycling capacity degradation of ZIBs. Herein, 1D ZnVO(OH)·2HO (ZVO) nanowires were grown on monodisperse 2D TiCT MXene nanosheets a facile microwave-assisted method. The introduction of TiCT MXenes effectively improved the conductivity and hydrophilicity of ZVO. Furthermore, the Zn diffusion coefficient of ZVO/TiCT composites was enhanced to 10-10 cm s, which was superior to that of pure ZVO nanowires (10-10 cm s) and other previously reported typical V-based cathodes. The ZIBs based on the ZVO/TiCT cathode possessed an excellent discharge specific capacity of 215.2 mAh g at 0.1 A g and cycling stability (84% retention over 14 000 cycles at 10 A g). Moreover, the flexible Zn//ZVO/TiCT ZIBs using a gel electrolyte still exhibited good cycling stability and rate performance.