Realizing high-performance zinc ion storage through the construction of a C O Mn structure for the preparation of MnO@NGF cathode with self-assembly capability

In this study, a novel carbon material composite strategy was developed, using derivatives of natural graphite (NGF) as well as MnO as assembly modules, respectively. The COMn structure, which emerges during the calcination process, becomes reinforced due to the imbalance in oxygen coordination caused by manganese defects that arise during the charging and discharging of MnO. As the COMn structure continues to strengthen, NGF and MnO spontaneously self-assemble in situ, ultimately yielding a high-performance cathode material designated as MnO@NGF. The construction of the COMn structure not only facilitates the self-assembly of NGF and MnO, but also effectively mitigates the irreversible phase transition of MnO during the charging and discharging process. The successfully prepared MnO@NGF cathode material exhibits excellent cycling stability, maintaining 90 % of its capacity after 700 cycles at a current density of 1 A/g. This represents a significant improvement compared to the pristine MnO, with a cycling performance that is 5–7 times higher. This study presents a method for achieving the preparation of high energy density cathodes for aqueous zinc ion batteries and offers new insights for their large-scale industrial application.