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Rechargeable aqueous Zn/MnO2 batteries are very attractive large‐scale energy storage technologies, but still suffer from limited cycle life and low capacity. Here the novel adoption of a near‐neutral acetate‐based electrolyte (pH ≈ 6) is presented to promote the two‐electron Mn4+/Mn2+ redox reaction and simultaneously enable a stable Zn anode. The acetate anion triggers a highly reversible MnO2/Mn2+ reaction, which ensures high capacity and avoids the issue of structural collapse of MnO2. Meanwhile, the anode‐friendly electrolyte enables a dendrite‐free Zn anode with outstanding stability and high plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency (99.8%). Hence, a high capacity of 556 mA h g−1, a lifetime of 4000 cycles without decay, and excellent rate capability up to 70 mA cm−2 are demonstated in this new near‐neutral aqueous Zn/MnO2 battery by simply manipulating the salt anion in the electrolyte. The acetate anion not only modifies the surface properties of MnO2 cathode but also creates a highly compatible environment for the Zn anode. This work provides a new opportunity for developing high‐performance Zn/MnO2 and other aqueous batteries based on the salt anion chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-rich layered oxides (LLOs) exhibit great potential as high-capacity cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, but usually suffer from capacity/voltage fade during electrochemical cycling. Herein, a gradient polyanion-doping strategy is developed to initiate surface structural transition to form a spinel-like surface nanolayer and a polyanion-doped layered core material in LLOs simultaneously. This strategy integrates the advantages of both bulk doping and surface modification as the oxygen close-packed structure of LLOs is stabilized by polyanion doping, and the LLO cathodes are protected from steady corrosion induced by electrolytes. A LLO material modified with 5 at% phosphate (5%P@LLO) shows a high reversible discharge capacity of ≈300 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 95% after 100 cycles, and enhanced electrode kinetics. This gradient doping strategy can be further extended to other polyanion-doped LLO materials, such as borate and silicate polyanions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]