The Zn/MnO₂ battery is safe, low cost and comes with a high energy density comparable to Li-ion batteries. However, irreversible spinel phases formed at the MnO₂ electrode limits its cyclability. A viable solution to overcome this inactive phase is to use an aqueous ZnSO₄-based electrolyte, where pH is mildly acidic leading to a different reaction mechanism. Most importantly, the addition of MnSO₄ achieves excellent cyclability. How accessible Mn²⁺ ions in the electrolyte enhances the reversibility is presented. With added Mn²⁺, the capacity retention is significantly improved over 100 cycles. Zn²⁺ insertion plays an important role on the reversibility and a hydrated layered Zn-buserite structure formed during charge is reported. Furthermore, Zn₄SO₄(OH)₆ · 5H₂O precipitates during discharge but is not involved in the electrochemical reaction. This precipitate both buffers the pH and partly insulates the surface. Described in operando study show how the phase transformations and the failure mechanisms depend on the presence of Mn²⁺-ions in the electrolyte. These results give insight necessary to improve this battery further to make it a worthy contender to the Li-ion battery in large scale energy storage solutions.

Zn / MnO ₂电池安全，低成本，并且具有可与锂离子电池媲美的高能量密度。然而，在MnO ₂电极上形成的不可逆尖晶石相限制了其循环能力。克服这种惰性相的可行解决方案是使用ZnSO ₄基电解质水溶液，其中pH值呈弱酸性，导致不同的反应机理。最重要的是，添加MnSO ₄可获得出色的循环性。提出了电解质中可及的Mn ²⁺离子如何增强可逆性。添加Mn ²⁺，经过100个循环后，容量保持能力显着提高。锌²⁺插入对可逆性起着重要作用，据报道在充电过程中形成了水合的层状锌-堇青石结构。此外，Zn ₄ SO ₄（OH）₆ ·5H ₂ O在放电期间析出，但不参与电化学反应。该沉淀物既可以缓冲pH值，又可以部分隔离表面。在操作研究中描述的结果表明，相变和破坏机理如何取决于电解质中Mn ^2+离子的存在。这些结果提供了进一步改进该电池以使其成为大规模能量存储解决方案中锂离子电池的有力竞争者所必需的见识。