Layered Co doped MnO₂ with abundant oxygen defects to boost aqueous zinc-ion storage

Zinc Manganese oxide (Zn/MnO₂)-based aqueous battery is favored due to their high specific capacity, security and cost performance. Nevertheless, they usually problems of unstable cyclic structure and slow diffusion kinetics, restricting their practical application. Here, we have successfully synthesized a Co doped MnO₂ cathode material with abundant defects on a carbon cloth substrate. Through a simple hydrothermal method, the Co element can be lightly intercalated in the two-dimensional (2D) layered α-MnO₂ nanowires, inhibiting the structural transformation during the cycle and improve the stability of the material. Meanwhile, plasma technology facilitates the formation of oxygen vacancies in the electrode material, which not only accelerate electron diffusion but also improve the conductivity. Therefore, Zn/Co-MnO₂ battery can reach a specific capacity of 511 mAh g^-1 at 0.5A g^-1 and the retention rate accomplish 98% at high current density. This research puts forward a strategy of element doping and physical preparation of oxygen vacancies, which provides the possibility to develop reversible Zn/MnO₂-based aqueous battery cathode materials with high-performance.