Functional properties of quaternary metals (1-x)ZnMn2O4/(x)MgFe2O4 as supercapacitor electrode

Solid solutions from (1-x)ZnMn2O4/(x)MgFe2O4 (x=0.0, 0.1, 0.5, 0.9, 1.0) were obtained by a simple sol-gel procedure. A single-phase tetragonal spinel zinc manganite was identified by X-ray phase analysis for the samples x=0.0 and 0.1, whereas a single-phase cubic spinel magnesium ferrite was identified for x=0.5, 0.9, and 1.0. The formation of these phases was confirmed by the analysis of FTIR absorption spectra measured for the obtained samples. A scanning electron microscope was used to identify the different elements in the formed solid solution. Transmission electron microscope together with Rietveld profile method emphasized the nano-nature of the obtained samples. The influence of the composition parameter (x) on the optical properties of the solid solutions was explored utilizing UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy measurements. The magnetic measurements revealed the conversion of the paramagnetic nature of ZnMn2O4 samples into ferromagnetic nature as it couples with MgFe2O4 sample in (1-x)ZnMn2O4/(x)MgFe2O4 solid solution. The supercapacitor performance of all samples was examined by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge studies.