Electrodeposited Manganese Oxide on Carbon Paper for Zinc‐Ion Battery Cathodes

Nano‐crystalline, flake‐like Mn oxide was electrodeposited onto carbon paper (CP) using a pulsed electrodeposition technique. The electrodeposited Mn oxide was identified as Mn 3 O 4 through a combination of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. The Mn 3 O 4 on CP was used as a cathode for Zn‐ion batteries (ZIBs) and showed excellent cyclability at a current density of 1 A g −1 with a capacity retention of 139 % after 200 cycles. Electron microscopy was used to characterize the microstructural changes of the cathode at various stages during discharge/charge cycling. This work in combination with the electrochemical results suggests a two‐step reaction mechanism involving both intercalation and conversion reactions. The results demonstrate that electrodeposition of the cathode material is a simple, quick, and potentially scalable electrode synthesis method for producing high performing Zn‐ion electrodes without the use of binders or other additives.