Manganese oxide nanowires wrapped with nitrogen doped carbon layers for high performance supercapacitors

Abstract

In this study, manganese oxide nanowires wrapped by nitrogen-doped carbon layers (MnOx@NCs) were prepared by carbonization of poly(o-phenylenediamine) layer coated onto MnO2 nanowires for high performance supercapacitors. The component and structure of the MnOx@NCs were controlled through carbonization procedure under different temperatures. Results demonstrated that this composite combined the high conductivity and high specific surface area of nitrogen-doped carbon layers with the high pseudo-capacitance of manganese oxide nanowires. The as-prepared MnOx@NCs exhibited superior capacitive properties in 1M Na2SO4 aqueous solution, such as high conductivity (4.167×10−3Scm−1), high specific capacitance (269Fg−1 at 10mVs−1) and long cycle life (134Fg−1 after 1200 cycles at a scan rate of 50mVs−1). It is reckoned that the present novel hybrid nanowires can serve as a promising electrode material for supercapacitors and other electrochemical devices.