Glucose pillared Ni-Co layered double hydroxide clay materials toward durable cathodes for alkaline zinc batteries

Alkaline Ni-Zn batteries are gaining more and more attention because of their safety, environmental friendliness, low cost and excellent performance. However, the volume and structure of the cathode changes during the charging and discharging process, resulting in particle flaking and structural rupture during the cyclic charging and discharging process, thus reducing their cyclic stability and limiting wide application. Herein, NiCo Layered double hydroxides (LDHs)clay materials with a low crystallinity multilayer nanosheet structure are prepared by glucose intercalation as cathode materials for alkaline Ni-Zn batteries. Expanded NiCo LDH layer spacing through glucose intercalation reduces interlayer peeling and collapse, accelerates interlayer diffusion of ions, and thus improves electron transport performance. NiCo LDH-G1.5 electrode material provides a specific capacity of 224 mAh g-1 and a capacity retention rate of 76% at a current density of 40 A g-1, 2000 cycles to maintain 86% of maximum capacity. Alkaline NiCo LDH-G1.5//Zn battery, a specific capacity of 180 mAh g-1 can be achieved at a high current density of 20 A g-1 and still maintain 76% of their maximum capacity after 2000 cycles, a maximum energy density of 364 Wh kg-1 and a maximum power density of 54 kW kg-1. This work provides a viable cathode for the development of high specific capacity and stable alkaline Ni-Zn batteries.