Combined Displacement/Intercalation Mechanism of Ag_0.33V₂O₅ Cathode for Rechargeable Zinc-Ion Batteries

Zinc-ion batteries are gaining recognition as viable options for energy storage systems due to their air stability, abundance, affordability, and ease of use. However, existing zinc-storage materials primarily consist of intercalation cathode materials, necessitating the development of host structures with enhanced performance. Herein, the use of silver vanadate, Ag_0.33V₂O₅, as a cathode material is explored and its detailed displacement/intercalation mechanism is elucidated, encompassing silver, proton, and zinc-ion storage behaviors. Electrochemical behavior, structural analysis, and diffusion barrier calculation techniques are used to delineate cation diffusion pathways. Additionally, 3D electron density mapping is performed to visualize the cation reaction mechanism. The proposed material demonstrates an impressive reversible capacity of about 303 mAh g⁻¹ at a current of 0.1 A g⁻¹, along with outstanding cycle retention stability even at high current densities.