Fabrication and Electrochemical Properties of Electrospun Mn3O4 and RuO2-Mn3O4 Composite Nanofibers

Abstract

We report on the facile synthesis of Mn3O4 and highly conductive RuO2-Mn3O4 composite nanofiber mats by electrospinning and their potential suitability for application in electrochemical capacitors. Electrospun Mn3O4 and RuO2-Mn3O4 composite nanofiber mats calcined at 300 C exhibited multiple fiber networks composed of nanoparticles in the range of 5-15 nm (average ≈10 nm). For the RuO2-Mn3O4 composite fiber mats, crystalline Mn3O4 phases were well mixed with the amorphous RuOx phases. The electrochemical capacitors utilizing RuO2 Mn3O4 composite nanofiber mats as active electrodes exhibited a high specific capacitance of 293 F/g at 10 mV/s, high rate capability with a capacity loss of only 45% from 10 to 2000 mV/sec, and superior cycle characteristics over 30,000 cycles as compared to those (216 F/g at 10 mV/s, capacity loss of 94 %, poor cycle performance of 2000 cycles) of Mn3O4 nanofiber mats.