Achieving long-cycle-life Zn-ion batteries through interfacial engineering of MnO2-polyaniline hybrid networks
Pengchao Ruan, Xilian Xu, Xinlong Gao, Jinxiu Feng, Linhai Yu, Yanhui Cai, Xiaobin Gao, Wenhui Shi, Fangfang Wu, Wenxian Liu, Xiaoxian Zang, Fuyuan Ma, Xiehong Cao
Abstract
Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising in large-scale energy storage application, due to their low cost, and high safety. However, the dissolution of MnO2 cathode and corresponding unintelligible Zn-storage mechanism hinder the development of high-performance aqueous ZIBs. In this work, we report an interfacial engineering strategy toward long-cycling performance of MnO2-polyaniline hybrid cathode. The three-dimensional networks of MnO2-polyaniline hybrid are in-situ deposited on a current collector of carbon cloth (PANI-MnO2/CC) via a hydrothermal reaction followed by a self-initiated polymerization. Due to the formed tight 3D network-like interfaces among carbon cloth, MnO2 and PANI, the prepared hybrid cathode possesses rapid charge transport ability, fast ion diffusion ability and stable structure. The Zn//PANI-MnO2/CC battery displays a high capacity of 286 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, excellent energy density of 349 Wh kg−1, and an outstanding long-term cycling performance (96.9 % capacity retention after 9000 cycles at 4.0 A g−1). This work provides a new pathway to fabricate aqueous ZIBs with high energy density and ultra-long durability.