Nitrogen-doped carbon trapped MnMoO4 microrods toward high performance aqueous zinc-ion battery

Manganese oxides as a class of favorable cathode materials in zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), have garnered considerable concerns for their low cost, eco-friendliness as well as high energy density. Nonetheless, the practical applications of manganese oxides have been immensely hindered by sluggish reaction kinetics and moderate cycling stability as a result of their poor electronic/ionic conductivity. In this regard, nitrogen-doped carbon-coated MnMoO4 (MnMoO4@NC) is firstly designed with enhanced electrochemical kinetics in this work. The nitrogen-doped carbon coating on MnMoO4 enhances electric conductivity, inhibits Mn and Mo dissolution, and provides a large surface area, thereby increasing the contact area between cathode and electrolyte and offering more Zn2+/ H+ storage sites. What’s more, the MnMoO4@NC heterostructure formed built-in electric field with accelerated charge transfer is also elucidated by the first-principle calculations, which is in favor of the fast insertion/extraction of Zn2+ and H+. As a result, the MnMoO4@NC-2 exhibits optimal circulation endurance with a reversible capacity of 242.1 mA h g−1 together with capacity retention of 147.8 % at 1 A g−1 after 380 cycles. This study provides a new pathway for building durable ZIBs.