MOF-derived Zn/Co co-doped MnO/C microspheres as cathode and Ti₃C₂@Zn as anode for aqueous zinc-ion full battery

Mn-based aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising energy storage devices due to its low cost and high performance. However, Jahn–Teller effect of discharge process and Mn²⁺ dissolution restricts its practical application. Herein, we report a Zn/Co co-doped MnO/C (ZnCo-MnO/C) derived from metal organic framework (MOF) with high specific capacity and cyclic stability, which benefits from the synergistic effect of Zn/Co ions. The doping of Zn ions improves the low specific capacity of MnO in the initial activation process, and Co ions can effectively inhibit the Jahn–Teller effect of discharge products and enhance the structural stability. The synergistic effect of Zn/Co co-doped further enhances the conductivity and ion diffusion rate of MnO. In addition, the interface protection layer of the zinc anode is constructed by Ti₃C₂Cl₂ (Ti₃C₂@Zn), which can effectively inhibit dendrite growth and further improve the cycle life of AZIBs. Specifically, the assembled ZnCo-MnO/C//Ti₃C₂@Zn full battery has a specific capacity of 428.9 mAh·g⁻¹ at 0.1 A·g⁻¹. With 3000 cycles at 3.0 A·g⁻¹, the capacity retention rate is 98.7 %. This work emphasizes the significance of co-doped on the electronic structure of MOF derived MnO/C for efficient AZIBs.