Defect-Engineered MnO@Ni Foam Electrode for Zinc-Ion Batteries Toward Mobile Robotics Applications.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have gained significant attention as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems, especially in mobile robotics, due to their inherent safety, environmental friendliness, and low cost. However, the practical application of AZIBs is often hindered by slow Zn diffusion and the poor structural stability of the cathode materials under high-rate or long-term operation. To address these challenges, a defect-engineered, binder-free MnO electrode, with a MnO loading of 1.35 mg·cm, is synthesized via in situ hydrothermal growth of ultrathin MnO nanosheets directly on a 3D conductive nickel foam scaffold, followed by reductive annealing to introduce abundant oxygen vacancies. These oxygen-rich defect sites significantly enhance Zn adsorption, improve charge transfer kinetics, and contribute to enhanced pseudocapacitive behavior, further improving overall electrochemical performance. The intimate contact between the MnO and Ni substrate ensures efficient electron transport and robust structural integrity during repeated cycling. With this synergistic architecture, the MnO@Ni electrode achieves a high specific capacity of 122.9 mAh·g at 1 A·g, demonstrating excellent cycling durability with 94.24% capacity retention after 800 cycles and nearly 99% coulombic efficiency. This study offers a scalable strategy for designing high-performance, structurally stable Zn-ion battery cathodes with improved rate capability, making it a promising candidate for energy-intensive mobile robotic and flexible electronic systems.