Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have emerged as the most promising alternative energy storage system, but the development of a suitable cathode and the issues of Zn anodes have remained challenging. Herein, an effective strategy of high-capacity layered Mg0.1V2O5·H2O (MgVO) nanobelts together with a concentrated 3 M Zn(CF3SO3)2 polyacrylamide gel electrolyte was proposed to achieve a durable and practical ZIB system. By adopting the designed concentrated gel electrolyte which not only inherits the high-voltage window and wide operating temperature of the concentrated electrolyte but also addresses the Zn dendrite formation problem, the prepared cathode exhibits an ultrahigh capacity of 470 mAh g-1 and a high rate capability of 345 mAh g-1 at 5.0 A g-1, and the assembled quasi-solid-state ZIBs achieve 95% capacity retention over 3000 cycles as well as a wide operating temperature from -30 to 80 °C, demonstrating a promising prospect for large-scale energy storage. In situ X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) investigations also demonstrate a complex reaction mechanism for this cathode involving the (de)insertion of Zn2+, H+, and water molecules during cycling. The water molecules will reinsert into the interlayer and act as "pillars" to stabilize the host structure when Zn2+ is fully extracted.
Keywords: concentrated gel electrolyte; high-performance; magnesium vanadate cathode; reaction mechanism; wide-temperature; zinc-ion battery.