Mn2+ as the "spearhead" preventing the trap of Zn2+ in layered Mn2+ inserted hydrated vanadium pentoxide enables high rate capacity.

MnVOH/rGO with Mn2+ acting as the "spearhead" to connect with the V 2 O 5 · n H 2 O laminates by electrostatic interreaction and rGO improving the conductivity is synthesized and exhibits the enhanced electrochemical properties by their synergic impact. [Display omitted] • Mn2+ act as the "spearhead" to avoid the electrostatic bog for moving Zn2+ ions. • The synergic impact of Mn2+ and rGO makes the electrochemical properties vastly improved. • The Zn//MnVOH/rGO cell behaves good rate performance (∼97% of initial capacity). Vanadium oxides attract much attention and are concerned as one of the most promising cathodes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to the layered structures. However, their intensive development is limited by the fragile structures and laggard ion-transferring. Herein, Mn2+ inserted hydrated vanadium pentoxide nanobelts/reduced graphene oxide (Mn x V 2 O 5 · n H 2 O/rGO, abbreviated as MnVOH/rGO) was prepared by a simple one-pot hydrothermal process, delivering excellent electrochemical properties for AZIBs. The Zn//MnVOH/rGO cell operates well even at changing current densities over 45 cycles, behaving 361 mAh·g−1 at 0.1 A·g−1, 323 mAh·g−1 as the current density gradually increasing to 2 A·g−1 and 350 mAh·g−1 when gradually back to 0.1 A·g−1 (∼97% of initial capacity). Such a superb cycling and rate performance is ascribed to the unique stable structure with the compact electrostatic attraction between Mn2+ and V 2 O 5 · n H 2 O (VOH) laminate. On the one hand, Mn2+ generates electrostatic network with [VO 6 ] polyhedrons and suppresses the following electrostatic trap for the moving Zn2+. On the other hand, rGO improves the conductivity, endowing the high capacity and energy density. The performance of the MnVOH/rGO cathode exceeds most of vanadium-based cathodes applying in AZIBs and paves the way to the ideal energy storage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]