Manganese-based　materials　have　been　considered　as　promising　electrode　materials　for　aqueous　zinc-ion　batteries　(ZIBs).　However,　the　development　of　manganese-based　materials　is　seriously　restricted　by　their　low　electrical　conductivity　and　sluggish　reaction　kinetics.　In　the　present　work,　ultrathin　birnessite-type　δ-MnO2　nanosheets　branched　onto　N-doped　carbon　nanotubes　grown　on　carbon　cloth　substrate　(CC/NCNTs/δ-MnO2)　have　been　rational　synthesized　as　a　binder-free　cathode　electrode　for　aqueous　ZIBs.　The　CC/NCNTs/δ-MnO2　cathode　possesses　the　desired　merits　including　high　electrical　conductivity,　large　specific　surface　area,　abundant　active　sites,　fast　ion　diffusion,　good　structural　stability　and　free　of　any　polymer　binders.　When　evaluated　as　a　binder-free　cathode　electrode　for　aqueous　ZIBs,　the　CC/NCNTs/δ-MnO2　exhibits　high　areal　capacity　and　energy　density　of　1.95　mAh　cm−2　and　2.56　mWh　cm−2　at　a　current　density　of　0.4　mA　cm−2,　respectively,　as　well　as　decent　rate　capability　and　cycling　stability.　This　work　could　provide　an　effective　method　to　construct　high-performance　binder-free　cathode　electrodes　for　aqueous　ZIBs.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.