Synergistic Electric Double-Layer and Pseudocapacitance in NiMn2O4-Doped Chitosan-Derived Carbon for Energy Storage
摘要
This study presents a novel two-step simple hydrothermal synthesis of nitrogen-rich, porous carbon derived from chitosan, doped with nickel manganese oxide (NiMn2O4), for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes. The electrochemical evaluation was carried out in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte, where the material exhibited a specific capacitance of 1402 F g−1 (cyclic voltammetry) and 837.7 F g−1 (charge–discharge testing), along with excellent rate capability (508 F g−1 at 12 A g−1) and good cycling stability (over 70% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles). Structural and morphological analyses confirmed a highly porous carbon framework uniformly decorated with NiMn2O4 nanoparticles, which reduced the band gap from 2.6 to 1.6 eV, enhancing electrical conductivity and redox activity. Electrochemical evaluation in a two-electrode configuration which narrowly simulates the practical working conditions of real supercapacitor devices demonstrated a specific capacitance of 725 F g−1 at 5 mV s−1 and 501 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 indorsing its practicality. The synergistic effect of electric double-layer capacitance from the activated carbon and redox-based (pseudocapacitive) reactions from NiMn2O4 contributed to superior charge storage behaviour. Importantly, the simple and scalable synthesis process, based on renewable and low-cost chitosan, highlights the cost-effective and sustainable nature of this material, making it a promising electrode for next-generation energy storage devices.