Manganese-doped V5O12·6 H2O nanorods on exfoliated graphite as cathodes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Vanadium-based cathodes with high theoretical capacity are promising candidates for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). However, their practical deployment is hampered by sluggish Zn 2+ diffusion and poor intrinsic electronic conductivity. Herein, manganese-doped V 5 O 12 ·6H 2 O (Mn-VO) nanorods are directly grown in-situ on electrochemically exfoliated graphite via a facile electrodeposition strategy. The synergistic effect of combined structural and compositional modulation enhances the overall electronic conductivity, accelerates Zn 2+ transport, and improves the structural stability of the cathode. Consequently, the optimized Mn-VO electrode delivers a high specific capacity of 424 mAh g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 and retains 229 mAh g −1 at an ultrahigh current density of 20 A g −1 , demonstrating excellent rate capability. Furthermore, the electrode retains 81.8% of its initial capacity after 5000 cycles at 5 A g −1 . This work provides a facile and scalable electrode fabrication strategy for the development of high-performance vanadium-based cathodes for advanced AZIBs.