Coupled Role of Zn 2+ Reversibility and Reduced Water Activity in Achieving Stable Mild‐Aqueous Zn||MnO 2 Batteries
Varun R. Kankanallu, Adesanmi Adeniyi, Jianming Bai, Hui Zhong, Ruipeng Li, Honghu Zhang, Xiao Tong, Esther S. Takeuchi, Amy C. Marschilok, Kenneth J. Takeuchi, Mingyuan Ge, Yu‐chen Karen Chen‐WiegartABSTRACT
Aqueous Zn||MnO 2 batteries are promising for large‐scale energy storage but suffer from capacity fading due to irreversible transformations at the MnO 2 cathode. Achieving structural reversibility under long‐term cycling remains a central challenge. Here, we show that tuning the electrolyte solvation environment can directly stabilize Mn redox chemistry and lattice evolution in mild‐aqueous Zn||ε‐MnO 2 batteries. Using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a co‐solvent to lower water activity and reorganize the solvation structure, we reveal through operando X‐ray diffraction that the modified electrolyte promotes reversible Zn 2+ intercalation despite slower transport kinetics. Complementary X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that conventional aqueous electrolytes induce strong Mn‐valence gradients between surface and bulk, whereas DMSO suppresses these gradients and maintains uniform redox states. Collectively, these results demonstrate that electrolyte solvation engineering can mitigate parasitic reactions and enable structurally reversible MnO 2 redox processes, establishing a holistic pathway to enhance the long‐term stability of mild‐aqueous Zn‐based batteries.