Use of Hydrogel Electrolyte in Zn-MnO Rechargeable Batteries: Characterization of Safety, Performance, and Cu Ion Diffusion.

Achieving commercially acceptable Zn-MnO rechargeable batteries depends on the reversibility of active zinc and manganese materials, and avoiding side reactions during the second electron reaction of MnO. Typically, liquid electrolytes such as potassium hydroxide (KOH) are used for Zn-MnO rechargeable batteries. However, it is known that using liquid electrolytes causes the formation of electrochemically inactive materials, such as precipitation MnO or ZnMnO resulting from the uncontrollable reaction of Mn dissolved species with zincate ions.

Hydroxyl Conducting Hydrogels Enable Low-Maintenance Commercially Sized Rechargeable Zn-MnO Batteries for Use in Solar Microgrids.

Zinc (Zn)-manganese dioxide (MnO) rechargeable batteries have attracted research interest because of high specific theoretical capacity as well as being environmentally friendly, intrinsically safe and low-cost. Liquid electrolytes, such as potassium hydroxide, are historically used in these batteries; however, many failure mechanisms of the Zn-MnO battery chemistry result from the use of liquid electrolytes, including the formation of electrochemically inert phases such as hetaerolite (ZnMnO) and the promotion of shape change of the Zn electrode. This manuscript reports on the fundamental and commercial results of gel electrolytes for use in rechargeable Zn-MnO batteries as an alternative to liquid electrolytes.

Regenerable Cu-intercalated MnO layered cathode for highly cyclable energy dense batteries.

Manganese dioxide cathodes are inexpensive and have high theoretical capacity (based on two electrons) of 617 mAh g, making them attractive for low-cost, energy-dense batteries. They are used in non-rechargeable batteries with anodes like zinc. Only ∼10% of the theoretical capacity is currently accessible in rechargeable alkaline systems.