However, the preparation and utilization of electrodes with nanostructure present many problems. For instance, the ultra-nanosized powder is hard to mix well with the conductive agent, resulting in shedding from the current collector. Besides, nanomaterials are prone to migration and agglomeration of atoms/particles during the cycling process, leading to cracking and chalking [
57,
80]. Those problems are harmful to capacity and cycling stability. To deal with those problems, synthesizing the NVPF with a new structure should be considered. Cluster-material with a multi-level structure, composed of the nanoparticle by self-assembly, can improve the transfer kinetics of ions and electrons due to the large surface area and short ion/electron transfer pathway [
81–
84]. Furthermore, this structure does not aggregate and grow during the cycling process, resulting in stable cyclic performance [
85]. Focused on the multi-leveled structured NVPF, our group has also studied in this field. We designed hierarchical NVPF multi-clustered hollow microspheres through the ethylene glycol-assisted hydrothermal method (
Fig. 4e) [
86]. The hollow microsphere is assembled by nanoplates and nanoparticles (
Figs. 4f–
h). Compared with the bulk NVPF, this unique structure shrinks the pathway of Na
+ and electrons and generates more active sites for sodium storage (
Fig. 4i). Benefits from its unique hollow structure and carbon layer, this cathode exhibited a remarkable rate performance than that of other samples (
Fig. 4j). Composed with other materials to synthesize the hierarchical structure is also overcome the disadvantage. Carbon quantum dots has been modified NVPF to obtain high performance for SIBs. Liu
et al. [
87] developed the carbon quantum dots modified NVPF hierarchical microspheres (NVPF@CQDs) through a one-step solvothermal method following heat treatment.
Fig. 4k presents the schematic illustration of the synthesis process of CQDs-modified NVPF. It can be observed that the hierarchical microspheres were formed after adding the CQDs, inducing the growth of the crystal structure. SEM and TEM images revealed that the NVPF@CQDs presents a uniform and well-organized hierarchical microsphere (
Figs. 4l–
n), ensuring fast Na
+ and electron transfer within the hierarchical microsphere and CQDs. As a result, NVPF@CQDs presents a high-rate capacity of 105.1 mAh/g at 20 C and fantastic cycling stability (90.2% after 6000 cycles at 30 C) (
Fig. 4o). In addition, Liu
et al. [
88] reported a core/double-shell structured NVPF@C (NVPF@C
D) nanocomposite using a sol-gel method (
Fig. 4p). In the synthesized process, the NVPF nanoparticles are distributed regularly in the network structure of CMK-3, forming a core/double-shell structured nanocomposite (
Figs. 4q and
r), which could enhance the conductivity of the carbon network and improve the contact area between the active material and electrolyte due to the well-defined mesopores. Moreover, the mesoporous framework can inhibit aggregation and enhance the flexibility of NVPF lattices during the charge and discharge process. The NVPF@C
D nanocomposite delivered an extremely high-rate capacity of 63 mAh/g at 100 C (
Fig. 4s).