The Synthesis of Manganese Hydroxide Nanowire Arrays for a High-Performance Zinc-Ion Battery

The morphology, microstructure as well as the orientation of cathodic materials are the key issues when preparing high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). In this paper, binder-free electrode Mn(OH)(2) nanowire arrays were facilely synthesized via electrodeposition. The nanowires were aligned vertically on a carbon cloth. The as-prepared Mn(OH)(2) nanowire arrays were used as cathode to fabricate rechargeable ZIBs. The vertically aligned configuration is beneficial to electron transport and the free space between the nanowires can provide more iondiffusion pathways. As a result, Mn(OH)(2) nanowire arrays yield a high specific capacitance of 146.3 Ma h g(-1) at a current density of 0.5 A g(-1). They also demonstrates ultra-high diffusion coefficients of 4.5 x 10(-8) similar to 1.0 x 10(-9) cm(2) s(-1) during charging and 1.0 x 10(-9) similar to 2.7 x 10(-11) cm(-2) s(-1) during discharging processes, which are one or two orders of magnitude higher than what is reported in the studies. Furthermore, the rechargeable Zn//Mn(OH)(2) battery presents a good capacity retention of 61.1% of the initial value after 400 cycles. This study opens a new avenue to boost the electrochemical kinetics for high-performance aqueous ZIBs.

Automated summary

In this study, binder-free Mn(OH)(2) nanowire arrays were synthesized via electrodeposition and used as cathode for high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). The vertically aligned configuration of nanowires benefits electron transport and provides more ion diffusion pathways.