Rationally designed Mn₂O₃@ZnMn₂O₄/C core-shell hollow microspheres for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Manganese-based oxides are common cathode materials for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) because of their great capacity and high working voltage. However, the sharp decline of capacity caused by the dissolution of manganese-based cathode materials and the low-rate performance restrict their development. To address these problems, unique core-shell structured Mn₂O₃@ZnMn₂O₄/C hollow microspheres are reported as an ideal cathode material for AZIBs. Benefiting from the hollow structure, the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-derived carbon and ZnMn₂O₄. Its application in AZIBs as the cathode demonstrates its satisfactory rate performance, high cycle stability, and excellent reversibility. Its high reversible capacity is remarkable, which reaches its maximum of 289.9 mA h g^-1 at 200 mA g^-1 and maintains a capacity of 203.5 mA h g^-1 after cycling for 700 times at 1000 mA g^-1. These excellent performances indicate that this material is a potential cathode material of AZIBs.