Layered Topological Insulator MnBiTe as a Cathode for a High Rate Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Battery.

Recently, the topological insulator MnBiTe has aroused great attention owing to its exotic quantum phenomena and intriguing device applications, but the superior performances of MnBiTe have not been researched in the field of electrochemistry. By theoretical calculations, it is found that MnBiTe exhibits excellent Zn storage and transport properties. Therefore, it is speculated that MnBiTe has excellent electrochemical performance in zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). In this research, MnBiTe as a pioneer has been explored in ZIBs, showing surprising electrochemical properties. The MnBiTe electrode displays a high average discharge specific capacity (264.8 mA h g at 0.40 A g), a competitive cycle life (88.6% of initial capacity after 400 cycles at 4.00 A g), and an excellent rate performance (average capacity retention rate of 95.1% from 0.40 to 8.00 A g) owing to the fast ion transport of the conductive topological surface state and dissipationless channel of the edge state. Surprisingly, the quasi-solid-state (QSS) MnBiTe/Zn battery delivers excellent Zn storage capability and possesses a capacity retention of 79.9% after 1000 cycles at 4.00 A g. In addition, the QSS MnBiTe/Zn battery can exhibit excellent performance and the GCD curves maintain stability without distortion deformation even at temperatures of 0 and 75 °C.