“…The spin–orbit doublet peaks of Zn 2p were separated by a binding energy difference of 22.7 eV, which confirms the bivalent valence of the Zn ion. The XPS signal of O 1s of MnO 2 (Figure S1a) was split into three peaks at 530.5, 531.8, and 532.9 eV, and they were assigned to the Mn–O–Mn bond of the tetravalent metal oxide, Mn–OH bond, and to physically and chemically surface adsorbed water molecules, respectively. , The XPS signal of O 1s of ZM (Figure S1b) was split into three peaks at 529.5 eV (O–CO), 530.9 eV (Zn–O), and 532.3 eV (CO). ,, The XPS signal of O 1s of MZM (Figure S1c) was split into three peaks at 529.8 eV (O–CO/Mn–O–Mn), 530.5 eV (Zn–O/Mn–O–H), and 532.1 eV (CO), which are ascribed to the oxygen bonding with Zn and Mn metal clusters and also to the adsorbed water molecule on the surface both chemically and physically. − Further, it is obvious that all of the Zn 2p peaks (Figure b) and Mn 2p peaks (Figure c) of MZM shifted in the direction of increasing binding energies. This can be attributed to the interaction between Zn and Mn ions, moving the 2p peaks in the direction of the more positive binding energies …”