Vanadium(v)-based　cathode　materials　hold　great　potential　for　rechargeable　aqueous　zinc-ion　batteries　(AZIBs).　However,　the　shortcomings　of　poor　electrical　conductivity,　large　volume　changes,　serious　V　dissolution　and　the　complicated　electrochemical　reaction　mechanism　seriously　restrict　their　practical　applications.　Herein,　we　demonstrate　the　synthesis　of　unique　amorphous　Mo-V-O　and　Mo-V-N　hybrid　nanoplate　arrays　directly　grown　on　a　carbon　cloth　substrate　(CC@a-MVO/MVN　HNPAs)　as　an　additive-　and　binder-free　cathode　for　AZIBs.　This　electrode　design　offers　multiple　advantages　including　high　electrical　conductivity,　abundant　active　sites,　favorable　ion　diffusion　kinetics　and　robust　mechanical　stability.　As　expected,　the　CC@a-MVO/MVN　cathode　exhibits　outstanding　performance　in　terms　of　high　discharge　capacity　(1.06　mA　h　cm−2at　a　current　density　of　0.5　mA　cm−2),　good　rate　capability　(0.67　mA　h　cm−2at　10　mA　cm−2)　and　exceptional　long-term　cycle　stability　(94%　capacity　retention　at　6　mA　cm−2for　2000　cycles).　Furthermore,　flexible　soft-packaged　AZIBs　are　successfully　assembled　to　demonstrate　their　ability　for　practical　applications.　More　importantly,　variousex　situcharacterization　studies　reliably　demonstrate　the　reversible　formation/decomposition　of　two　different　kinds　of　zinc-containing　byproducts,　which　could　correspond　to　the　H+/Zn2+co-insertion　mechanism.　This　study　might　contribute　to　the　rational　development　of　V-based　cathode　materials　for　high-performance　AZIBs　and　provide　reliable　insights　into　the　reaction　mechanism.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry　2021.