Fabrication of NiV₂O₆/V₂CT<i>_<i>x</i></i> Nanohybrid as a High-Performance Cathode Material for Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries

Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are gaining attention as next-generation energy storage solutions due to their affordability and intrinsic safety. However, their broader adoption is limited by the difficulty in designing high-capacity electrode materials. In this study, a NiV2O6-V2CTx nanohybrid is introduced as a zinc-supplied cathode for AZIBs. The nanohybrid is synthesized via a simple hydrothermal synthesis process, where nonoriented NiV2O6 nanobelts grow directly on the layered V2CTx MXene sheets, forming a highly stable composite with excellent potential as a cathode material. Electrochemical studies reveal that the NiV2O6-V2CTx nanohybrid delivers high cycling stability, impressive reversible zinc storage capacity, and superior rate performance. It achieves a specific capacity of 388 mA h g–1 at 0.1C and maintains 89.2% of its initial capacity even after 1000 cycles at 0.5C. These studies highlight the significance of microstructure engineering in electrode materials for achieving high-performance AZIBs.