Preparation and Characterization of Nanostructured Manganese Oxide for Supercapacitors.

Nanostructured manganese oxides were synthesized by a sol-gel method using manganese acetate (MnAc2) and citric acid (C6H8O7,) as precursors, and characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The nano-rod structure of MnO2 developed gradually when the calcination temperature varied from 380 to 580 degrees C. As the pH increased, the pore size increased, while the specific surface area decreased. The effects of the pH and calcination temperature on the electrochemical properties of the nano-MnO2 electrode, including the supercapacitive behavior, were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests. The tests were performed between 0 and 0.8 V versus Ag/AgCl in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte at various scan rates (10-200 mVs(-1)). The specific capacitance of the SP-380 sample, prepared at pH 6, was equal to 269.3 Fg(-1). After 300 cycles, approximately a 3.4% increase of the specific capacitance was measured, confirming the excellent cyclability.

Synthesis and Electrochemical Analyses of Manganese Oxides for Super-Capacitors.

δ-Phase and α-phase manganese oxides were prepared using a hydrothermal method and their electrochemical properties were characterized. The influence of calcination temperature on the properties of manganese oxides was studied. Crystallinities were studied by X-ray diffraction, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to examine morphologies. Average pore sizes and specific surface areas of samples were analyzed using the Barret-Joyner-Halenda and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller methods, respectively. After calcination in the range 300 degrees C to 600 degrees C, changes in morphology and crystallinity were observed. The flower-like shape of as synthesized samples became nanorod-like and the δ-phase changed to the α-phase. These changes may have been due to the removal of water during calcination. Furthermore, a transition stage in which the two phases coexisted was observed. Synthesized manganese oxides were mixed with carbon by sonification, to increase electric conductivity and to induce a synergistic effect between pseudo-capacitor and electric double layer capacitor (EDLC). Specific capacitances and rate durability of each composite were investigated by cyclic voltammetry in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte at different scan rates. MnO2 calcined at 400 degrees C exhibited the highest capacitance, probably due to its high surface area and more porous structure.

Performance Evaluation of Activated Carbon Nanofiber as Carbon Supports to Improve the Cyclability of Li-Air Batteries.

This study addresses the effects of the pore structures of carbon materials used as cathodes for non-aqueous lithium-air batteries on cycle life. Carbon Nanofibers (CNFs) were synthesized by electrospinning polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and carbonization. The synthesized CNF was then converted to activated carbon nanofibers (ACNFs) under flowing CO2. The specific surface areas CNFs were increased on activation. ACNFs were arranged randomly to form a web-like structure providing both oxygen pathways and a means of discharging products. To examine the electrochemical properties of ACNF, charge-discharge tests were conducted using a Swagelok-type cell at a constant current density of 0.2 mA/cm2; impedance tests were also conducted. ACNF sheet electrodes had cycle lives of up to 50 cycles, which was attributed to high surface area and porosity, although overpotentials for both charge and discharge were high. This cycling performance showed that the pore structure of sheet ACNF is more suitable for the transport of oxygen and for the storage of discharge products than carbon powders.