Designing electrolytes and stable Mn metal anodes for high-performance Mn-based batteries

Manganese shows promise as an anode material in next-generation rechargeable batteries, owing to its greater theoretical capacity and more negative redox potential (-1.19 V vs. SHE) compared to zinc. However, practical application is hindered by severe corrosion, parasitic hydrogen evolution, and uncontrolled dendrite formation, which together compromise Coulombic efficiency and cycling durability. This review critically evaluates recent progress in electrolyte design strategies aimed at overcoming these obstacles, including highly concentrated aqueous systems, halogen-mediated non-aqueous electrolytes, and additive-driven interface modification. These approaches collectively extend the electrochemical stability window, suppress water-induced side reactions, and promote reversible Manganese plating/stripping. Additionally, alternative methods such as constructing artificial protective interlayers and tuning electronic structures via alloying are discussed, which effectively regulate nucleation behavior and reduce hydrogen evolution. By integrating these emerging insights, this review outlines key design principles and future directions for the development of practical Manganese-based battery anodes.