Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are considered one of the promising large-scale energy storage devices of the future because of their high energy density, simple preparation process, efficient and safe discharge process, abundant zinc reserves, and low cost. However, the development of cathode materials with high capacity and stable structure has become one of the key elements to further development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Vanadium-based compounds, as one of the cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries, have various structures and high reversible capacities. Among them, vanadium-based sulfides have higher academic ability, better electrochemical activity, lower ion diffusion potential barrier, and a faster ion diffusion rate. As a result, vanadium-based sulfides have received extensive attention and research. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of vanadium-based sulfides applied in aqueous zinc-ion batteries, highlighting their effective strategies for designing optimized electrochemical performance and the underlying electrochemical mechanisms. Finally, an overview is provided of current vanadium-based sulfides and their prospects, and other perspectives on vanadium-based sulfide cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries are also discussed.

It is critical and challenging to develop high performance transition metal phosphides (TMPs) electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to address fossil energy shortages. Herein, we report the synthesis of Co₂P embedded in N-doped porous carbon (Co₂P@N-C) via a facile one-step strategy. The obtained catalyst exhibits a lower overpotential of 352 mV for OER at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² and a small Tafel slope of 84.6 mV dec⁻¹, with long-time reliable stability. The excellent electrocatalytic performance of Co₂P@N-C can be mainly owed to the synergistic effect between the Co₂P and highly conductive N-C substrate, which not only affords rich exposed active sites but also promotes faster charge transfer, thus significantly promoting OER process. This work presents a promising and industrially applicable synthetic strategy for the rational design of high performance nonnoble metal electrocatalysts with enhanced OER performance.