PNNL

Abstract

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-manganese dioxide batteries have great promise for large-scale energy storage due to the use of environmental friendly, abundant, and rechargeable Zn metal anode and MnO2 cathode. In the literature various intercalation and conversion reaction mechanisms have been reported depending on the origin of the starting materials, but it is not clear how these mechanisms can be simultaneously manipulated to improve the charge storage and transport properties. Here, we report a systematical study to understand the electrolyte controlled charge-storage mechanisms in layered d-MnO2. A joint Zn2+ intercalation pseudocapacitance in bulky d-MnO2 and H+ conversion reaction pathway in a wide C-rate charge-discharge range facilitates the high rate performance of high capacity d-MnO2 cathodes. The Zn-d-MnO2 system delivers discharge capacity of 136.9 mAh g-1 at 20 C and capacity retention of 92% over 4,000 cycles with joint charge storage mechanisms.