A strategy for reutilization of solid waste by using industrial soda residue to construct calcium vanadate nanomaterials for high-performance aqueous Zn-ion batteries

Abstract

Here, efficient recycling of waste is incorporated into designing energy storage materials to satisfy the pressing demand of sustainable energy storage technologies. CaV4O9 nanomaterials were firstly synthesized by a hydrothermal route using industrial waste soda residue as raw material, which were used us cathode material for high-performance aqueous Zn-ion batteries. The prepared CaV4O9 nanomaterials display a relatively higher discharge capacity of 292 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 in combination with a better cycling performance (capacity retention of 82.8% after 1000 cycles at 5.0 A g−1) and an enhanced rate performance, its electrochemical performance is obviously superior to that of calcium vanadate obtained by analytical purity calcium carbonate as raw material. The superior electrochemical performance should be ascribed to the doping effect of metal ions in the CaV4O9 coming from soda residue. This strategy provides a new idea for the high-value and fine utilization of solid waste in energy storage field.