α-MnO2/super-P with conductive carbon network for rechargeable aqueous Zinc ion batteries

Abstract High crystallinity, nano size, and full contact with conductive media are essential for improving the performance of battery materials. Herein, α-MnO2/super-P composite is synthesized via in-situ hydrothermal method. As the cathode material of aqueous Zinc ion battery, the α-MnO2/super-P was maintained 47.0% of discharge capacity after 1000 cycles (decreased from 180 mAh g−1 in the first cycle to 84.6 mAh g−1 in the 1000th cycle) at a high rate of 1.0 A g−1 and reaches the coulombic efficiency to 100% throughout the whole cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance of α-MnO2/super-P is mainly due to the short diffusion path of Zn2+ and the large-scale conductive network of conductive carbon (super P) particles.