Reversible aqueous zinc/manganese oxide energy storage from conversion reactions

Journal Article · Mon Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Nature Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2016.39· OSTI ID:1337258

Pan, Huilin; Shao, Yuyan ; Yan, Pengfei; Cheng, Yingwen; Han, Kee Sung; Nie, Zimin; Wang, Chongmin; Yang, Jihui; Li, Xiaolin; Bhattacharya, Priyanka; Mueller, Karl T.; Liu, Jun

Rechargeable aqueous batteries are attracting growing interest for energy storage due to their low cost and high safety. Fundamental understanding of highly reversible aqueous reactions is critical for building high-performance batteries. Herein, we studied the reversibility of Zn/MnO2 battery chemistry in mild aqueous MnSO4 electrolytes. α-MnO2 nanofibers were used as a high performance cathode. Our study provides good evidence for a conversion reaction mechanism through reversible formation of short nanorods and nanoparticle aggregates. This reversible conversion reaction provides an operating voltage of 1.44 V, high capacity of 285 mAh g-1, excellent rate and capacity retention of 92% after 5000 cycles. Zn metal anode also shows high reversibility in the mild aqueous MnSO4 electrolytes. The highly reversible and stable chemistries in aqueous Zn/MnO2 batteries open new opportunity for energy storage technologies with potentially high energy density, high safety, and low cost.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1337258
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-111263; 49164; KC0203020
• Journal Information: Nature Energy, Vol. 1, Issue 5; ISSN 2058-7546
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory