Recent Advances on Spinel Zinc Manganate Cathode Materials for Zinc-Ion Batteries

Zinc metal is abundant in nature, non-toxic, harmless, and cheap. Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have also emerged as the times require, which has attracted scholars' research interest. In the zinc-ion batteries, the cathode material is indispensable. Manganese oxides are widely used in electrode materials because of their various valence states (+2, +3, +4, +7). ZnMn₂ O₄ (ZMO) is a mixed metal oxide with a spinel structure similar to LiMn₂ O₄ . Due to the synergistic effect of Zn and Mn, it has the advantages of high theoretical capacity. In recent years, researchers have gradually applied ZnMn₂ O₄ to zinc ion batteries. In order to obtain high-energy-density zinc ion batteries, it is also very important to match electrolytes with a wide operating voltage window and develop a highly reversible anode. In the first instance, we investigate the research progress of spinel ZnMn₂ O₄ as a reliable candidate material for zinc ion batteries. Later on, we review the optimization and modification measures of anode and electrolyte to improve the electrochemical properties of spinel ZnMn₂ O₄ . On this basis, we propose the reasonable research direction and development prospects for this material. It is hoped that there will be a help to researchers in this field.