In Situ Defect Healing Suppresses Mn Dissolution Chain Reactions in Aqueous Sodium-Ion Cathodes

Sodium manganese hexacyanoferrate (Mn-HCF) is a promising cathode for aqueous sodium-ion batteries (ASIBs) due to its low cost and high theoretical capacity. However, its practical application is hindered by rapid capacity fading, which originates from Mn dissolution and the uneven lattice expansion induced by Jahn-Teller distortion and successive phase transitions. While strategies such as lattice doping, surface coating, and electrolyte additives have been explored to mitigate Mn dissolution, they merely delay rather than prevent the process. Moreover, the subsequent degradation reactions remain poorly understood. Herein, we elucidate a degradation chain reaction initiated by Mn dissolution. Dissolved Mn²⁺ ions catalyze interfacial water oxidation, generating protons that protonate the C≡N ligands of Fe(CN)₆^4-/3-. The subsequent ligand dissociation releases Fe²⁺/³⁺, which then react with residual Fe(CN)₆^4- and Na⁺ to precipitate Na_xFe[Fe(CN)₆] (Fe-HCF) on the electrode surface, ultimately leading to the lattice collapse of Mn-HCF. As this chain reaction continues, conventional approaches that only slow Mn dissolution are insufficient, and thus, the vacancies must be refilled in real time to halt the process. Accordingly, we introduce iron(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate (Fe(OTf)₃) into a concentrated 17.6 m NaClO₄ aqueous electrolyte. The Fe³⁺ ions rapidly occupy Mn vacancies as they form, thereby blocking the chain reaction at its source. A full cell incorporating the stabilized Mn-HCF cathode and a PTCDI (3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylicdiimide) anode retains 80% of its initial capacity after 20,000 cycles at 2 A g^-1, corresponding to an ultra-low-capacity fade rate of 0.001% per cycle that outperforms most reported ASIB cathodes.