Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Researchers Develop Ultra-Fine Nanocrystals for Aqueous Magnesium-Ion Batteries

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made a significant breakthrough in the development of ultra-fine nanocrystals for aqueous magnesium-ion batteries. The team, led by Bo Zhang, successfully fabricated nano-Mg/Ca-S-MnO2 crystals with ultra-fine sizes (D50 of 61.66 nm) using a novel method involving repeated battery over-discharge pretreatment. This innovation has improved the cathode performance of magnesium-ion batteries, demonstrating high rate-performance (45.8 mAh g-1 at 2C) and discharge capacity (113.2 mAh g-1), and retaining 72.5% capacity after 1000 cycles.

Key Takeaways:

  • The slow magnesium ion transport kinetics at the cathode interface is a major reason for low capacity in aqueous magnesium-ion batteries.
  • The nanostructure design of cathode materials is an effective way to enhance magnesium ion transfer.
  • The ultrafine nanocrystalline S-MnO2 was fabricated via repeated battery over-discharge pretreatment, allowing for continuous volume expansion-contraction and stabilization of interlayer spacing.
  • The obtained Mg/Ca-S-MnO2 nano-crystals have ultrafine sizes with D50 of 61.66 nm.
  • The assembled nano-Mg/Ca-S-MnO2||VO2 full cell demonstrates high rate-performance (45.8 mAh g-1 at 2C) and discharge capacity (113.2 mAh g-1).
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the Chemical Engineering Journal.
  • The study was supported by the Qinghai Kunlun Talent Program and the Basic Research Program of Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province.

Statistics:

  • D50 of Mg/Ca-S-MnO2 nano-crystals: 61.66 nm
  • Rate-performance: 45.8 mAh g-1 at 2C
  • Discharge capacity: 113.2 mAh g-1
  • Retained capacity after 1000 cycles: 72.5%
  • The study has been published in the 2025 issue of the Chemical Engineering Journal (Vol. 522).

Sources:

  • Controlled Cracking of S-mno2 Into Ultra-fine Nanocrystals To Improve the Cathode Performance for Aqueous Magnesium-ion Batteries. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025;522.
  • NewsRx. Research Conducted at Chinese Academy of Sciences Has Provided New Information about Nanocrystals (Controlled Cracking of S-mno2 Into Ultra-fine Nanocrystals To Improve the Cathode Performance for Aqueous Magnesium-ion Batteries). Nanotechnology Weekly. October 20, 2025; p 3421.