Expanded spinel ZnMnO induced by electrochemical activation of glucose - mediated manganese oxide for stable cycle performance in zinc - ion batteries.

Rechargeable aqueous Zn - MnO batteries show great potential for grid - scale storage due to cost - effectiveness and high safety. However, most of MnO cathodes suffer from irreversible phase transformation into spinel ZnMnO with reduced electrochemical activity after repeated charge/discharge cycles, leading to severe capacity decay. Herein, we reveal a strategic design utilizing glucose as the mediating agent to prepare nanostructured MnO/MnO material, which can be then transformed into lattice - expanded ZnMnO nanoparticles by electrochemical activation.