Fabrication of MnAl2O4/g-CN nanohybrid as an advantageous electrode for supercapacitor applications

The motivation for the production of specific nanostructured electrode materials emerges from the escalating energy demands of the forthcoming generation. In this study, we demonstrated the fabrication process and evaluated the performance of supercapacitors utilizing manganese aluminate (MnAl2O4) nanoparticles adorned on graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN). The composite material produced via hydrothermal methods exhibited a notable increase in specific capacitance (Cs) and demonstrated excellent long-term stability throughout cycling. The improved electrochemical functionality was caused by several aspects, such as the occurrence of various oxidation states of manganese ions, a substantial specific surface area (SSA), a structure rich in nitrogen and a porous nature that enables rapid ion transportation. The electrode composed of a composite material exhibited excellent stability over 5000th cycles in 2.0 M KOH at 1 A g-1. Additionally, the specific capacitance (Cs) of the MnAl2O4/g-CN nanohybrid was determined to be 586 F g-1 at 5 mV s-1. MnAl2O4/g-CN nanohybrid revealed a Cs of 1161 F g-1, an energy density (Ed) of 74 Wh kg-1 and a power density (Pd) value of 340 W kg-1 at 1 A g-1. The electrochemical characteristics of g-CN were influenced by the presence of electrochemically activated sites in its nanosheet structures. The findings suggested that utilizing MnAl2O4/g-CN composite as electrode materials for storing energy could be an appealing and cost-effective option.