Search

• The defect-rich VS 4 nanosheets are obtained via microwave-induced fabrication method. • The sulfur vacancies promote the desorption of Mg2+. • V3+ self-doping maintains the structural stability of the active material. • Cation-anionic synergistic redox achieve a high specific capacity. Vanadium sulfide (VS 4) demonstrates the most prospect as the cathode materials for rechargeable magnesium battery due to its special one-dimensional linear crystal structure. However, VS 4 cathode still suffers from sluggish kinetics, irreversible structural change, short cycle life, and low capacity. Herein, a microwave-induced synthesis method is presented to fabricate VS 4 nanosheets with rich sulfur vacancies and high V3+/V4+ ratio. When serviced as the cathode material for rechargeable magnesium battery, the VS 4 nanosheets display excellent electrochemical performances with large specific capacity of 701 mAh/g at 200 mA g−1 current density. In addition, the VS 4 nanosheets cathodes also show long-term operating stability over 600 cycles at 1.0 A/g current density with only 0.3 % capacity decay per cycle. Our experimental results show that the improved electrochemical reaction kinetics is ascribed to the defect-rich structure and the reversible anionic redox reactions between S2−/S 2 2− of the VS 4 nanosheets. This work offers a meaningful way to design high-performance Mg2+ ion storage cathode materials with favorable diffusion kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]