Rapid synthesis of graphene/amorphous α-MnO2 composite with enhanced electrochemical performance for electrochemical capacitor

Abstract Nanostructured graphene/amorphous α-MnO 2 composites have been synthesized by a facile co-precipitation method under the alkaline condition, in which graphene nanosheets as a supporting substrate to grow MnO 2 . Characterizations of prepared samples’ morphology and microstructures indicate MnO 2 is successfully formed on the surface of graphene by electrostatic interaction. Moreover, the electrochemical properties of the synthesized electrode materials for supercapacitors are studied in a three-electrode experimental setup using a 1 M KOH aqueous solution as the electrolyte. As a result, the specific capacitance of graphene/MnO 2 composite (weight ratio of graphene to MnO 2 is 1:1) determined by a galvanostatic charge–discharge method at a current density of 1 Ag −1 reaches 367 Fg −1 , which is 1.8 and 4.6 fold higher than that of pure graphene and MnO 2 . The capacity retention of the graphene/MnO 2 composite is 73.9% of the original capacitance after 1000 cycles, indicating graphene/MnO 2 composite is a promising electrode material for supercapacitors.