Artificial phosphate solid electrolyte interphase enables stable MnO2 cathode for zinc ion batteries

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries based on manganese-based cathode materials are promising energy storage devices, but the low conductivity and dissolution issues of manganese-based cathode materials lead to instability. In order to address these issues, this work proposes an in situ reaction between hydroxyethylene-1,1,diphosphonic acid and manganese dioxide to create a phosphorylated manganese dioxide (PMO) cathode on which a phosphate solid electrolyte interphase was built. This artificial organic electrolyte interface improves the stability of the cathode during cycling, allowing it to deliver capacities of 250 mAh g(-1) and 105 mAh g(-1) at current densities of 0.1 A g(-1) and 1.0 A g(-1), respectively. The intrinsic mechanism of this phosphate retards the side reactions caused by water attack. This strategy provides a general design strategy for manganese-based cathode materials for aqueous zinc ion batteries.