Proton Insertion Promoted a Polyfurfural/MnO₂ Nanocomposite Cathode for a Rechargeable Aqueous Zn-MnO₂ Battery

Rechargeable aqueous Zn-MnO₂ batteries using a mild electrolyte have attracted considerable interest because of their high output voltage, high safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, poor cycling stability remains a significant issue for their applications. Equally, the energy storage mechanism involved is still controversial thus far. Herein, porous polyfurfural/MnO₂ (PFM) nanocomposites are prepared via a facile one-step method. When tested in a rechargeable aqueous Zn-MnO₂ cell, the PFM nanocomposites deliver high specific capacity, considerable rate performance, and excellent long-term cyclic stability. Based on the experimental results, the role of the hydrated basic zinc sulfate layer being linked to the cycling stability of the aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries is revealed. The mechanistic details of the insertion reaction based on the H⁺ ion storage mechanism are proposed, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the cycling performance of the rechargeable aqueous Zn-MnO₂ cell. We expect that this work will provide an insight into the energy storage mechanism of MnO₂ in aqueous systems and pave the way for the design of long-term cycling stable electrode materials for rechargeable aqueous Zn-MnO₂ batteries.