Citation: Chengjun Wu, Yajiang Wang, Xiaoduo Jiang, Huixiong Jiang, Jin-Hang Liu, Ping Yan, Hai-Yan Hu, Yao Xiao, Xiudong Chen. Dual-guest co–intercalation engineering enables high-energy and long-life aqueous zinc-ion batteries[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(10): 112787. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2026.112787 shu

Dual-guest co–intercalation engineering enables high-energy and long-life aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Chengjun Wu ^a ,
Yajiang Wang ^a ,
Xiaoduo Jiang ^a ,
Huixiong Jiang ^a ,
Jin-Hang Liu ^a ,
Ping Yan ^a ,
Hai-Yan Hu ^b ,
Yao Xiao ^{b, *,} ,
Xiudong Chen ^{a, *,}

a.
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Province Engineering Research Center of Ecological Chemical Industry, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, China
b.
College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China

xiaoyao@wzu.edu.cn

chenxd@jju.edu.cn

Received Date: 4 February 2026
Revised Date: 27 March 2026
Accepted Date: 16 April 2026
Available Online: 16 April 2026

Figures(5)

Ammonium vanadate (NVO) is an attractive cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to its tunable layered structure. However, its practical use is limited by structural instability and irreversible NH₄⁺ extraction during cycling. To overcome these challenges, we employed a dual-guest pillar strategy for NVO, utilising a one-pot hydrothermal co-intercalation technique to insert Al³⁺ and benzyltrimethylammonium ions (BTMA⁺) into its interlayer spacing. The synergistic intercalation of Al³⁺ and BTMA⁺ not only expanded the interlayer spacing to 10.9 Å but also further modulated the electronic structure. Simulations reveal a narrowed band gap and enhanced Zn²⁺ adsorption capability, which synergistically boost rapid Zn²⁺ migration and enhance structural stability. Consequently, the resultant cathode delivers a high specific capacity of 432.8 mAh/g at 1.0 A/g, alongside excellent rate capability and cycling stability (92.07% capacity retention after 2000 cycles at 6.0 A/g). This work demonstrates that dual-guest co-intercalation-enabled molecular pillaring and electronic modulation is an effective strategy for fabricating high-performance vanadium-based cathodes for advanced AZIBs.
- Dual-guest co-intercalation,
- Ammonium vanadate,
- Electronic structure modulation,
- Aqueous zinc-ion batteries,
- Ion diffusion kinetics
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