Freestanding CuV2O6/carbon nanotube composite films for flexible aqueous zinc-ion batteries

• Published in: Applied surface science 2022-03, Vol.578, p.152053, Article 152053
• Main Authors: Song, Jinling, Wang, Wenjiang, Fang, Yuan, Wang, Shuai, He, Dongxu, Zhao, Rui, Xue, Weidong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aqueous Zn-ion batteries; Composite film; Cupric vanadate; Flexible devices
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2021.152053

Freestanding CuV2O6/reductive acidified carbon nanotube (CVO/RCNTs) composite films with excellent flexibility and conductivity were prepared via a vacuum filtration strategy and made into the aqueous Zn//CVO/RCNTs gel battery, which exhibited stable electrochemical properties under different bending conditions. [Display omitted] •Free-standing CuV2O6/RCNTs composite films with high flexibility were achieved.•RCNTs provided a 2 µm conductive substrate for the film as a current colletor.•The aqueous Zn//CVO/RCNTs gel battery exhibited stable electrochemical properties.•Great potential as flexible wearable energy storage devices. Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have become a key research object in the field of new generation energy storage devices due to their high safety, low cost and eco-friendliness, and show a promising potential application. In this work, CuV2O6 nanobelts were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and freestanding CuV2O6/reductive acidified carbon nanotube (CVO/RCNTs) composite film without any binder was synthesized by vacuum filtration. The aqueous Zn//CVO/RCNTs batteries presented a admirable reversible capacity of 353 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and the cycling performance with a high reversible capacity of 174.7 mAh g−1 and 61.5% capacity retention after 1400 cycles at 5 A g−1,making rings round the vast majority reported zinc ion batteries.More importantly, the CVO/RCNTs composite films had stable electrochemical properties under different bending degrees after preparation into flexible gel batteries, demonstrating great potential in the field of flexible wearable zinc ion batteries.