Highly flexible MnO2@polyaniline core-shell nanowire film toward substantially expedited zinc energy storage

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 452; p. 139408
• Main Authors: Li, Na, Hou, Zhidong, Liang, Shiyu, Cao, Yunjing, Liu, Huanyan, Hua, Wei, Wei, Chunguang, Kang, Feiyu, Wang, Jian-Gan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.01.2023
• Subjects: Flexible electronics; Hybrid film; MnO2; Polyaniline; Zinc-ion batteries; MnO2; Zinc-ion batteries; Polyaniline; Flexible electronics; Hybrid film
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.139408

[Display omitted] •Highly flexible MnO2@polyaniline nanowire film is prepared by in situ interfacial method.•Conducting polyaniline boosts the reaction kinetics to show superior rate capability.•Polyaniline nanoshell safeguards the structural stability of MnO2 to extend cycle life.•The flexible zinc-ion batteries show excellent performance under various bending states. Flexible electrode materials are of critical importance for advancing the development of flexible Zn-MnO2 rechargeable batteries. However, the slow electron-transfer kinetics and poor structural stability of MnO2 dramatically impede their real-world practices. In this work, we showcase an in situ interfacial fabrication of a highly flexible MnO2@polyaniline (MnO2@PANI) core–shell nanowire film for high-rate and durable zinc energy storage. The conducting polyaniline nanoshell is of grand benefit for expediting the reaction kinetics and stabilizing the electrode. The MnO2@PANI hybrid cathode affords an impressive reversible capacity of 342 mA h g−1 at 0.2 A/g, and more notably, warrants substantially improved rate and cycling performance. The excellent zinc energy storage is further demonstrated in a flexible device. This encouraging achievement will pave a fresh design roadway for expediting the Zn-MnO2 technology toward smart and flexible electronics.