A facile one-step approach to hierarchically assembled core-shell-like MnO2@MnO2 nanoarchitectures on carbon fibers： An efficient and flexible electrode material to enhance energy storage

• Published in: Nano research 2016-05, Vol.9 (5), p.1507-1522
• Main Authors: Nagaraju, Goli, Ko, Yeong Hwan, Cha, Sung Min, Im, Sang Hyuk, Yu, Jae Su
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Capacitance; Carbon fibers; Chemical reactions; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cloth; Condensed Matter Physics; Current density; Electric potential; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Energy storage; Fabrication; Fibers; Manganese dioxide; Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Research Article; Sodium sulfate; Textiles; Voltage; 二氧化锰; 储能器件; 核壳; 电化学性能; 电极材料; 碳纤维布; 纳米MnO2; 组装
• ISSN: 1998-0124; 1998-0000
• DOI: 10.1007/s12274-016-1047-4

Hierarchical core-shell-like MnO2 nanostructures （NSs） were used to anchor MnO2 hexagonal nanoplate arrays （HNPAs） on carbon cloth （CC） fibers. The NSs were prepared by a novel one-step electrochemical deposition method. Under an external cathodic voltage of -2.0 V for 30 min, hierarchical core-shell-like MnO2-NS-decorated MnO2 HNPAs （MnO2 NSs@MnO2 HNPAs） were uniformly grown on CC with reliable adhesion. The phase purity and morphological properties of the samples were characterized by various physicochemical techniques. At a constant external cathodic voltage, growth of MnO2 NSs@MnO2 HNPAs on CC was carried for different time periods. When utilized as a flexible, robust, and binder-free electrode for pseudocapacitors, the hierarchical core-shell-like MnO2 NSs@MnO2 HNPAs on CC showed clearly enhanced electrochemical properties in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte solution. The results indicate that the MnO2 NSs@MnO2 HNPAs on CC have a maximum specific capacitance of 244.54 F/g at a current density of 0.5 A/g with excellent cycling stability compared to that of bare MnO2 HNPAs on CC （112.1 F/g at 0.5 A/g current density）. We believe that the superior charge storage performance of the pseudocapacitive electrode can be mainly attributed to the hierarchical MnO2 NSs@MnO2 HNPAs building blocks that have a large specific surface area, offering additional electroactive sites for efficient electrochemical reactions. The facile and single-step approach to growth of hierarchical pseudocapacitive materials on textile based electrodes opens up the possibility for the fabrication of high-performance flexible energy storage devices.