Journal Article

sub.3Osub.4 High-Entropy Cathode for Zinc-Ion Batteries

Cui, Huanhuan, Jiang, Renzhi, Cai, Yuncheng, Dong, Ningning

2026

Overview

What are the main findings? * A novel high-entropy cathode (FeNiMnMgCuCo)[sub.3]O[sub.4] is designed and synthesized for aqueous zinc-ion batteries. * The material exhibits a high reversible capacity of 341.3 mA h g[sup.−1] at 0.1 A g[sup.−1]. * The material possesses excellent cycling stability (76.1% retention after 1000 cycles at 3 A g[sup.−1]). * Multi-element coexistence in mixed valence states and high configurational entropy ( 1.78 R) enhance stability. * The high-entropy design effectively promotes Zn[sup.2+] diffusion and redox kinetics while suppressing structural degradation during cycling. A novel high-entropy cathode (FeNiMnMgCuCo)[sub.3]O[sub.4] is designed and synthesized for aqueous zinc-ion batteries. The material exhibits a high reversible capacity of 341.3 mA h g[sup.−1] at 0.1 A g[sup.−1]. The material possesses excellent cycling stability (76.1% retention after 1000 cycles at 3 A g[sup.−1]). Multi-element coexistence in mixed valence states and high configurational entropy ( 1.78 R) enhance stability. The high-entropy design effectively promotes Zn[sup.2+] diffusion and redox kinetics while suppressing structural degradation during cycling. What are the implications of the main findings? * This work demonstrates a high-entropy cathode material with practical potential. * This work provides new research insights for optimizing zinc-ion storage performance through composition design and entropy regulation. * This work will be of significant interest to researchers in the fields of electrochemistry and energy storage. This work demonstrates a high-entropy cathode material with practical potential. This work provides new research insights for optimizing zinc-ion storage performance through composition design and entropy regulation. This work will be of significant interest to researchers in the fields of electrochemistry and energy storage. As a result of the high safety, low cost, and environmental benignity, aqueous zinc-ion batteries are regarded as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation large-scale energy storage systems. However, their further development is constrained by performance bottlenecks in existing cathode materials, including capacity, cycle life, and reaction kinetics. In this study, a high-entropy design strategy is employed to synthesize the metal oxide (FeNiMnMgCuCo)[sub.3]O[sub.4] with a cubic spinel structure, and its electrochemical performance as a cathode for zinc-ion batteries is systematically evaluated. The prepared (FeNiMnMgCuCo)[sub.3]O[sub.4] high-entropy cathode exhibits high reversible capacity (341.3 mA h g[sup.−1] at 0.1 A g[sup.−1]) and remarkable long-term cycling stability (76.1% retention after 1000 cycles at 3 A g[sup.−1]). This work not only demonstrates a high-entropy cathode material with practical potential but also provides new research insights for optimizing zinc-ion storage performance through composition design and entropy regulation.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Chemical reaction, Rate of / Electrochemical reactions / Electrochemistry / Spinel group