Parasitic electrodeposition in Zn-MnO2 batteries and its suppression for prolonged cyclability

The utilization of mildly acidic electrolyte and corresponding Mn salt pairing unlocked a path toward highly rechargeable Zn-MnO2 batteries, but long-term feasibility of these cathode-preserving strategy under practical conditions is never verified. In this study, in-situ MnO2 electrodeposition occurring in the battery recharging process is discovered to be a side reaction that substantially nullifies the practicality of the strategy. Particularly, it is identified to be responsible for irreversibly converting the electrolyte Mn ions to electrochemically passive species and triggering battery performance deterioration. These newfound recognitions lead to the formulation of a kinetic inhibition strategy, which is executed through an unconventional cathode electrode design. Specifically, graphite nanosheets with limited surface defects are incorporated into MnO2 electrodes to hinder the rate determining Mn adsorption process and thus effectively suppress the electrodeposition reaction. The resulting thin film binder-free MnO2 electrodes achieve near-full one-electron capacity reversibly for over 600 cycles, with an average columbic efficiency of ~99.8%. Overall, this study reveals the importance of suppressing MnO2 electrodeposition in Zn-MnO2 batteries and provides a contrasting view on key factors that dictate the stability of the system.