Abstract

Exploring suitable and economically efficient cathode materials for zinc-ion batteries plays a vital role in combating current challenges and achieving practical applications. Herein, Zn3(PO4)2 nanoparticles with exceptional battery properties were produced via microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis. The synthesis was conducted at different microwave heating times (3, 5, 10, and 15 min) at a fixed temperature of 200°C. The structural properties of synthesized Zn3(PO4)2 were studied via XRD, FESEM-EDS, and TEM studies, while the electrochemical parameters were evaluated through CV, GCD, and EIS in a standard 3-electrode system with 1 M KOH as an electrolyte at a room temperature. The electrochemical results show that Zn3(PO4)2 synthesized at 10 min microwave heating time reported the best electrochemical performance with a specific capacity value of 38.90 and 31.89 C/g at a scan rate of 10 mV/s and current density of 1 A/g, respectively. Furthermore, a stability test of the synthesized electrode material reported an excellent cyclability of the electrode with 79% retention of the initial value of its specific capacity after 1000 cycles.