Boosting high-loading zinc-ion battery performance: Zn-Doped d-MnO2 cathodes to promote Zn2+ storage

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as a leading contender for stationary energy storage systems due to their low cost, safety, and environmental sustainability. However, their widespread practical application is hindered by the limited stability and capacity of current AZIB...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Chacón Borrero, Jesús, Chang, Xingqi, Min, Zhiwen, Yu, Jing, Montaña Mora, Guillem, Mejia Centeno, Karol V., Sun, Yuanmiao, Zhou, Xiaolong, Tunmee, Sarayut, Kidkhunthod, Pinit, Li, Junshan, Llorca Piqué, Jordi|||0000-0002-7447-9582, Arbiol Cobos, Jordi, Cabot Codina, Andreu
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/443989
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/443989
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2025.104486
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Zn-MnO2
Zinc-ion battery
Zn storage mechanism
High-capacity retention
Binder-free
Self-supporting electrode
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria dels materials
Descripción
Sumario:Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as a leading contender for stationary energy storage systems due to their low cost, safety, and environmental sustainability. However, their widespread practical application is hindered by the limited stability and capacity of current AZIB cathodes, such as man- ganese oxide (MnO2), which affects their long-term cost-effectiveness. To overcome this limitation, we introduce zinc (Zn) doping in d-MnO2, which modulates the electronic states of Mn atoms, suppresses Jahn–Teller distortion, and enhances structural stability. Additionally, the use of a binder-free, self-supported porous elec- trode without current collectors facilitates three-dimensional ion diffusion, further improving electrochemical performance. As a result, the assembled AZIBs demonstrate outstanding rate capability, delivering 440 mAh•g-1 at 0.2 A•g-1 and retaining 118 mAh•g-1 at 24 A•g-1 for Zn-doped d-MnO2, outperforming the bare d-MnO2 with 356 mAh•g-1 at 0.2 A•g-1 and 80 mAh•g-1 at 24 A•g-1. Additionally, the Zn-doped d-MnO2 exhibits excellent cycling performance with ~100 % capacity retention after 6000 cycles at 150 mAh•g-1 at 10 A•g-1. Furthermore, Zn-doped MnO2 electrodes integrated with carbon nanotubes achieve a high capacity of ~210 mAh•g-1, even at an ultrahigh mass loading (~20 mg•cm-2) at 0.6 mA•g-1. While energy storage in MnO2 involves the reaction and insertion of H+, Mn2+, and Zn2+ cations, density functional theory calculations reveal that Zn intercalation is the dominant storage mechanism in these cells. Overall, this study highlights the potential of Zn-doped MnO2 cathodes as a promising strategy for advancing the stability, capacity, and rate performance of next-generation AZIBs.