MnO2/Co3O4 COMPOSITE ELECTRODES FOR POTENTIAL SUPERCAPACITOR APPLICATIONS

Abstract

As the global energy landscape shifts toward more sustainable and high-performance storage solutions, the development of next-generation supercapacitor electrodes has become increasingly critical. Addressing this demand, we developed a straightforward chemical co-precipitation method to synthesize manganese dioxide (MnO2) and cobalt oxide (Co3O4), incorporating a conductive carbon framework as a potential electrode material for supercapacitors. The resulting mixture was further combined with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and deposited onto a nickel foam/graphene monolayer substrate to fabricate test electrodes. This method bypasses the complexity of multi-step fabrication and post-processing, offering a streamlined, scalable approach to building multifunctional hybrid electrodes. The resulting composite exhibits rapid ion transport and enhanced charge storage, while Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the successful incorporation of Mn and Co elements. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated that the composite possesses an amorphous structure. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Galvanic Charge/Discharge (GCD) measurements revealed excellent long-term cycling stability, indicating the viability of the fabricated composite for potential supercapacitor applications. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was also performed to evaluate the internal resistance and charge-transfer properties, providing complementary insight into the electrode’s electrochemical behavior.