Rechargeable MnO2 in aqueous lithium electrolyte: Good news and bad news from a battery perspective

A new class of rechargeable manganese dioxide electrode (MnO2) in aqueous electrolyte is described. Intercalation of lithium from the LiOH electrolyte into the vacant sites of a host MnO2 has been achieved electrochemically is good news. The formation of a lithium carbonate layer from a LiOH electrolyte acts as a barrier for protons while permitting lithium ion insertion in aqueous solutions forming lithium intercalated manganese dioxide (LixMnO2) upon discharge. This novel mechanism may be a key in transferring primary to secondary batteries using LiOH as electrolyte.