Sulfur Vacancy-Induced 1T-MoS ₂ as a High-Performance Cathode for Stable Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

The growing energy crisis driven by population expansion and fossil fuel dependence necessitates efficient energy storage solutions. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) emerge as a promising candidate due to their high theoretical capacity, safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benignity. This work explores the hydrothermal synthesis of 1T-phase MoS2 with intrinsic sulfur vacancies, enhancing electrical conductivity and Zn2+ diffusion kinetics. Comprehensive characterizations confirm the formation of 1T-MoS2 with a layered structure and abundant active sites. Electrochemical studies reveal the critical role of potential window optimization, where 0.2–1.3 V delivers desired cycling stability (97.91% retention over 500 cycles). The device demonstrates high diffusion coefficients (2.688 × 10–10 cm2 s–1 during charging). Ex-situ analyses confirm structural and morphological integrity postcycling, while practical application in powering an LCD timer for over a week underscores its real-world viability. This study highlights 1T-MoS2 as a robust cathode material for ZIBs, offering insights into potential window engineering for stable, high-performance energy storage systems.