Synthetic Engineering of Manganese Oxide–Carbon Nanocomposites for Maximized Metal Utilization in Supercapacitors

Among various electrode materials for supercapacitors, manganese oxide–carbon composites offer a promising balance of cost, performance, and environmental sustainability. Yet while these electrode structures can offer significant overall capacitance, the total capacitance is generally much lower than the theoretically achievable value, highlighting that the manganese oxide is in fact greatly underutilized. This study presents a novel one‐pot metal‐ammonia synthesis method for fabricating manganese oxide–activated carbon (MnAC) nanocomposites, designed to maximize manganese utilization in supercapacitor electrodes. By leveraging a thermodynamically driven deposition process, Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles are uniformly anchored onto activated carbon, overcoming limitations of conventional synthesis routes such as poor conductivity and underutilized active materials. The resulting MnAC composites exhibit high specific capacitance (120 F g −1 ) and 94% capacity retention after 1000 cycles, along with exceptional manganese efficiency (1044 F g −1 relative to Mn content), approaching theoretical limits. Structural and electrochemical analyses confirm the formation of a well‐integrated, crystalline Mn 3 O 4 phase with enhanced redox activity and conductivity. This scalable synthesis eliminates toxic solvents and enables ammonia recovery, offering a sustainable pathway for high‐performance energy storage materials. The findings highlight the potential of MnAC composites for next‐generation supercapacitors and establish a foundation for further optimization of metal oxide–carbon hybrid electrodes.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Energy & environment materials
Published
2025-11-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/eem2.70162
Primary Topic
Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Synthetic Engineering of Manganese Oxide–Carbon Nanocomposites for Maximized Metal Utilization in Supercapacitors

Katrina Mazloomian, Christopher A. Howard, Hector J. Lancaster, Thomas Samuel Miller et al.
Energy & environment materials
Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication
article

Synthetic Engineering of Manganese Oxide–Carbon Nanocomposites for Maximized Metal Utilization in Supercapacitors

Katrina Mazloomian, Christopher A. Howard, Hector J. Lancaster, Thomas Samuel Miller, Thomas R. Dore
article en

Abstract

Among various electrode materials for supercapacitors, manganese oxide–carbon composites offer a promising balance of cost, performance, and environmental sustainability. Yet while these electrode structures can offer significant overall capacitance, the total capacitance is generally much lower than the theoretically achievable value, highlighting that the manganese oxide is in fact greatly underutilized. This study presents a novel one‐pot metal‐ammonia synthesis method for fabricating manganese oxide–activated carbon (MnAC) nanocomposites, designed to maximize manganese utilization in supercapacitor electrodes. By leveraging a thermodynamically driven deposition process, Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles are uniformly anchored onto activated carbon, overcoming limitations of conventional synthesis routes such as poor conductivity and underutilized active materials. The resulting MnAC composites exhibit high specific capacitance (120 F g −1 ) and 94% capacity retention after 1000 cycles, along with exceptional manganese efficiency (1044 F g −1 relative to Mn content), approaching theoretical limits. Structural and electrochemical analyses confirm the formation of a well‐integrated, crystalline Mn 3 O 4 phase with enhanced redox activity and conductivity. This scalable synthesis eliminates toxic solvents and enables ammonia recovery, offering a sustainable pathway for high‐performance energy storage materials. The findings highlight the potential of MnAC composites for next‐generation supercapacitors and establish a foundation for further optimization of metal oxide–carbon hybrid electrodes.

Energy & environment materialsVol. 9(2)
The Faraday Institution (GB), University College London (GB)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 77%
Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.