Simple preparation route of amorphous Zn-Mn-O compound with enhanced phase changeability as a high-capacity cathode for zinc ion batteries

Zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) are candidates for high-safety energy storage devices. However, the competitive cathode materials with high energy density and stability are still challenging. Herein, a novel cathode, amorphous Zn-Mn-O compound (A-Zn₂MnO₄) with enhanced phase ability has been proposed. The A-Zn₂MnO₄ demonstrates superior capacity (432.6mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹). Furthermore, the A-Zn₂MnO₄ can increase with the cycle time and reach a capacity of 270mAh g⁻¹ at 0.6 A g⁻¹ (97 % improvement over the first cycle) due to its’ enhanced phase changeability. This work reports an original A-Zn₂MnO₄ cathode, which can be prepared by a simple coprecipitation method at room temperature, providing a potential new option for advanced ZIBs cathode materials.