Nanostructured Zn3V3O8@N-doped graphene with high-rate and ultra-stable storage as anode of lithium-ion batteries

The Zn3V3O8@N-graphene (ZnVO@NG) hybrid was successfully prepared by hydrothermal method as anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The introduced N-graphene (NG) was used as a conductive carbonaceous matrix for encapsulating Zn3V3O8 (ZnVO) flowers due to good mechanical properties. The ZnVO@NG electrode has better rate performance and higher cyclic stability than most ZnxVyOz-based anode reported before. The reversible discharge capacity of the composite maintains 601 mAh g-1 after 1200 cycles at the rate of 4 A g−1. The enhanced performance owes to the fast lithium ion/electron transport kinetics, highly surface-controlled pseudocapacitive behavior, and improved interfacial storage of the composite. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations have demonstrated that the interfaces between the ZnVO and graphene sheets provide active sites for the adsorption of Li+ ions. In addition, charges redistribution occurring at the interface of the composite confirms the built-in electric field, which could accelerate Li+/electron diffusion.