Rechargeable aqueous zinc-manganese dioxide batteries with high energy and power densities

Abstract Although alkaline zinc-manganese dioxide batteries have dominated the primary battery applications, it is challenging to make them rechargeable. Here we report a high-performance rechargeable zinc-manganese dioxide system with an aqueous mild-acidic zinc triflate electrolyte. We demonstrate that the tunnel structured manganese dioxide polymorphs undergo a phase transition to layered zinc-buserite on first discharging, thus allowing subsequent intercalation of zinc cations in the latter structure. Based on this electrode mechanism, we formulate an aqueous zinc/manganese triflate electrolyte that enables the formation of a protective porous manganese oxide layer. The cathode exhibits a high reversible…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: IRT13R30, 2016YFA0202500, 11227902, B12015, 21231005, 21473235
• MO
  Ministry of Education, India