Facile synthesis of nanourchin like manganese oxide electrode material for high performance symmetric supercapacitor

Abstract

Herein, Manganese dioxide (MnO2) electrode material with a unique morphology was synthesized using low cost, one-step hydrothermal method on flexible carbon cloth substrate. For detail understanding the influence of deposition parameters on the electrochemical performance of MnO2 electrode material, we have synthesized MnO2 at different deposition parameters like deposition time and concentration of precursor solution. The structural, morphological, and surface area properties of the as-synthesized MnO2 nanostructures electrodes deposited at different deposition time as well as different precursor concentration have been systematically characterized by using different physical and electrochemical characterization techniques. The SEM micrographs show different morphologies like nanothorn, nanourchins and naoflowers at concerning deposition time and precursor concentration. Among all the electrodes nanourchin-like MnO2 nanostructures deposited using 0.005 M precursor concentration for 8 h at 160°C shows the highest specific capacitance value of 470.46 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s and good cycling stability after 5000 cycles. For practical application purpose, a symmetric prototype supercapacitor device has been fabricated by using solid-state gel polymer electrolyte. The symmetric device shows good electrochemical performance. Overall results show that nanourchin-like MnO2 grown on carbon cloth substrate is potential electrode material for practical application for energy storage.