Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of N-Doped Graphene-Wrapped MnO2 Nanoflowers

• Published in: Journal of electronic materials 2018-12, Vol.47 (12), p.7288-7295
• Main Authors: Duraia, El-Shazly M., Fahami, Abbas, Beall, Gary W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ball milling; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Electron microscopes; Electronics and Microelectronics; Energy storage; Fourier transforms; Graphene; Humic acids; Industrial applications; Instrumentation; Manganese dioxide; Materials Science; Morphology; Nitrogen; Optical and Electronic Materials; Scanning electron microscopy; Self-assembly; Solid State Physics; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0361-5235; 1543-186X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11664-018-6666-y

Nitrogen-doped graphene wrapped MnO 2 nanoflowers (N-G-MnO 2 ) have been successfully synthesized via a simple scalable method. N-graphene nanosheets were prepared first by ball milling graphite and urea followed by mixing of N-graphene and MnO 2 nanoflowers that was microwaved for only a few minutes to form N-G-MnO 2 nanoflowers. The self-assembled layer of N-G-MnO 2 nanoflowers over a silicon wafer was prepared using a reverse meniscus convective self-assembly technique. The as-prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The final product of this process revealed the successful formation of N-G-MnO 2 with great uniformity and high purity. SEM investigations reveals good dispersion and uniform distribution of N-G-MnO 2 nanoflowers over a wide area. The addition of humic acid was found to be a crucial factor for the formation of the flower morphology. XRD phase studies show the formation of birnessite-MnO 2 structure. This cost-effective, eco-friendly, and scalable process could be used for industrial applications such as energy storage materials.