Recent Progress in Layered Manganese and Vanadium Oxide Cathodes for Zn-Ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising candidates for grid-scale energy-storage systems, which are essential for maintaining and distributing energy generated from various sources. In contrast to current commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), AZIBs offer advantages such as, but not limited to, high safety, low cost, and fast kinetics. Zn intercalation material serves as the key element for the suitability of Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) for grid and stationary applications. Different materials are tested as cathode materials for ZIBs, including manganese oxides and vanadium oxides. MnO2- and V2O5-based cathodes, in particular, seem compatible with ZIBs, with the potential to perform better than existing batteries in the market. Due to the fast and facile (de)intercalation-type storage mechanism of Zn2+ ions, layered electrode materials generally have a more stable structure during battery charge and discharge cycles. Materials with large interlayer spacing are expected to exhibit good electrochemical performance, thereby favoring hydrated and cation-intercalated materials in the development of AZIBs cathodes. Herein, an overview is provided on the synthesis, morphology, and electrochemical performance of various MnO2- and V2O5-based cathode materials in AZIB, as well as the challenges that must be overcome to reach the commercialization of AZIBs.

Automated summary

AZIBs are promising candidates for grid-scale energy-storage systems, with advantages such as potential performance improvements with MnO2 and V2O5-based cathodes; the fast and facile storage mechanism of Zn2+ ions favors layered electrode materials for a more stable structure during charge and discharge cycles.