A facile solvothermal reduction strategy is demonstrated to introduce oxygen defects into ultrathin Co₃O₄ nanosheets (R–Co₃O₄), which function as an advanced cathode for Zn//Co batteries.

Aqueous alkaline batteries see bright future in renewable energy storage and utilization, but their practical application is greatly challenged by the unsatisfactory performance of anode materials. Herein, we demonstrate a latent Sb stripping/plating chemistry by constructing an oxygen-rich interface on carbon substrate, thus providing a decent anode candidate. The functional interface effectively lowers the nucleation overpotential of Sb and strengthens the absorption capability of the charge carriers (SbO₂⁻ ions). These two advantageous properties inhibit the occurrence of side reactions and thus enable highly reversible Sb stripping/plating. Consequently, the Sb anode delivers theoretical-value-close specific capacity (627.1 mA h g⁻¹), high depth of discharge (95.0%) and maintains 92.4% coulombic efficiency over 1000 cycles. A robust aqueous NiCo₂O₄//Sb device with high energy density and prominent durability is also demonstrated. This work provides a train of thoughts for the development of aqueous alkaline batteries based on Sb chemistry.

Free-standing porous MoO ₂ nanowires with extraordinary capacitive performance are developed as high-performance electrodes for electrochemical capacitors.

A nanoribbon-like Ca²⁺-modified vanadium oxide cathode with improved electrochemical properties for aqueous Zn ion batteries is easily obtained by a facile hydrothermal synthesis.