Three-dimensional Zn3V3O8/carbon fiber cloth composites as binder-free anode for lithium-ion batteries

- Grass-like Zn3V3O8 nanobelts array coated 3D carbon fiber cloth is prepared.
- As binder-free anode for LIBs, it exhibit excellent Li+ storage properties.
- The electrode exhibits good capacity retention of 82.7% after 500 cycles at 5A g−1.
- The electrochemical mechanism of Zn3V3O8 is investigated.

Ternary metal vanadium oxides have been considered as potential anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the poor electronic conductivity and large volume expansion during the discharge/charge process lead to poor electrochemical performance. Herein, we firstly report the preparation of grass-like Zn3V3O8 nanobelts array coated 3D carbon fiber cloth (Zn3V3O8/CFC) as a binder-free anode for LIBs. The composites could effectively improve the kinetics of electronic transportation and mitigate the volume expansion of electrodes during discharge/charge process. As a result, the Zn3V3O8/CFC exhibits excellent Li+ storage properties. It can deliver a reversible capacity of ∼1750 mA h g−1 at a low current density of 100 mA g−1 and a specific capacity of 942 mA h g−1 at the high rate of 1.5 A g−1. Even measured at high current density of 5 A g−1, the electrode could maintain a high capacity of 455 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles with a capacity retention of 82.7%.

Grass-like Zn3V3O8 nanobelts coated three-dimensional carbon fiber cloth substrates are synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method with subsequent calcination. As a proof of concept application, the Zn3V3O8/CFC composites exhibit high specific capacity, high-rate capability and excellent cyclic stability as binder-free anode for lithium ion batteries.162