Carbon/lambda-MnO{sub 2} composites for supercapacitor electrodes
In the present work a composite of carbon with lambda-MnO{sub 2} have been synthesized by a simple two-step route. In the first step, to obtain LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4}/carbon material, mesoporous activated carbon was impregnated with the solution of precursor metal salts and heated subsequently. As-prepared materials were acid treated which resulted in the formation of lambda-MnO{sub 2}/carbon. Physical properties, structure and specific surface area of electrode materials were studied by TEM, X-ray diffraction and nitrogen sorption measurements. Voltammetry cycling, galvanostatic charge/discharge and impedance spectroscopy measurements performed in two- and three-electrode cells have been applied in order to measure electrochemical parameters. TEM images confirmed well dispersed lambda-MnO{sub 2} particles on the surface of carbon material. The carbon in the composite plays an important role as the surface area enhancing component and a support of pseudocapacitive material. Furthermore, the through-connected porosity serves as a continuous pathway for electrolyte transport. A synergetic effect of the porous carbon framework and of the redox properties of the lambda-MnO{sub 2} is at the origin of improvement of specific capacitance values which has been observed for composites after delithiation. - Comparison of capacitance characteristics for initial carbon and synthesised composites for CB in 1 mol L{sup -1} Na{sub 2}SO{sub 4} solution.