Abstract
Manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and combined with exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets, and the nanocomposite was studied as a supercapacitor. X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the crystalline structures and structural characteristics of the nanocomposite. Transmission electron microscopy images showed the uniform size distribution of MnFe2O4 nanoparticles (~ 13 nm) on few-layer MoS2 nanosheets. UV–visible absorption photospectrometry indicated a decrease in the bandgap of MnFe2O4 by MoS2, resulting in a higher conductivity that is suitable for capacitance. Electrochemical tests showed that the incorporation of MoS2 nanosheets largely increased the specific capacitance of MnFe2O4 from 600 to 2093 F/g (with the corresponding energy density and power density of 46.51 Wh/kg and 213.64 W/kg, respectively) at 1 A/g, and led to better charge–discharge cycling stability. We also demonstrated a real-world application of the MnFe2O4/MoS2 nanocomposite in a two-cell asymmetric supercapacitor setup. A density functional theory study was also performed on the MnFe2O4/MoS2 interface to analyze how a MoS2 monolayer can enhance the electronic properties of MnFe2O4 towards a higher specific capacitance.
Highlights
Manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and combined with exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets, and the nanocomposite was studied as a supercapacitor
Recent developments suggest that 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as M oS2, MoSe2, WS2, TiS2, NbS2, and VS2 have great potential to fill the gap between the current performance and the modern requirements of energy-storage devices as electrodes of electrochemical s upercapacitors[10,11,12,13]
In the pattern of M nFe2O4 nanoparticles, the peaks at 2θ = 18°, 30°, 35°, 43°, 53°, 57°, and 63° correspond to (111), (220), (311), (400), (4−22), (511), and (440), which are attributed to the cubic spinel structure of MnFe2O4 with the space group of Fd 3 m with the JCPDS card No 96-591-006432
Summary
Manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and combined with exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets, and the nanocomposite was studied as a supercapacitor. It has been demonstrated that the spinel ferrites of these metals (MFe2O4, M is a transition metal) deliver much better electrochemical performance due to their richer valence electron, different redox states, synergistic effects between their metal ions, electrochemical stability, and chemical and mechanical stability, suitable for batteries and s upercapacitors[14,25,26,27,28,29]. It is interesting to make composites of MnFe2O4 nanoparticles and few-layer M oS2 nanosheets, as a 2D TMD, to utilize their synergistic effects to achieve improved electronic p roperties[30,31]. In such a composite, the Scientific Reports | (2021) 11:8378
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
