Synthesis and Supercapacitive Performances of Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers Decorated with Spinel Co1.5Mn1.5O4 Nanocrystals

Abstract

Herein, a novel composite material of coupled carbon fibers and Co1.5Mn1.5O4 spinel oxide crystals has been fabricated by a facile twoͲstage process. In the first stage, fibers were produced by singleͲspinneret electrospinning of polymer solutions with the cobalt and manganese acetate precursors. In the second stage, fibers were heatͲtreated to convert them into composite structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the formation of composite fibers with spinel crystals deposited on the surface. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and energy dispersive XͲray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of composite fibers crossͲsection revealed that carbon occupies space inside spinel rings. The composite electrode delivers a specific capacity of about 740 mAh g –1, at a current density of 5 A g–1 in alkaline solution, which is more than 37 times superior to neat carbon fibers. Furthermore, the electrode retained 135% of its initial capacity, after 1000 cycles of galvanostatic charge/discharge at 5 A gо1.