Enhancing supercapacitor performance with zinc doped MnSe nanomaterial

Abstract

The decreasing availability of fossil fuels and the increasing demand for energy highlight the pressing need for sustainable energy sources. Electrochemical technologies, notably supercapacitors, play a key role. They promise renewable energy storage, necessitating high-performing, safe, and affordable electrode materials. In this study, we present a novel hydrothermal synthesis method for producing MnSe and Zn<inf>x</inf>Mn<inf>1-x</inf>Se materials across a range of concentrations (x = 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03). Characterization techniques including XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, BET and Raman analysis were employed. Among the synthesized compositions, Zn<inf>0.03</inf>Mn<inf>0.97</inf>Se emerged as the most promising material for supercapacitor applications. Evaluation through cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed specific capacitance values of 135 F/g at 3 mV/s and 95 F/g at 0.5 A/g for Zn<inf>0.03</inf>Mn<inf>0.97</inf>Se. Furthermore, the material demonstrated impressive stability, retaining 97% of its capacitance after 1000 cycles. Additionally, to validate the potential of the synthesized electrode, we assembled a two-electrode symmetric cell using Zn<inf>0.03</inf>Mn<inf>0.97</inf>Se as both positive and negative electrode material in a 5 M KOH electrolyte. Extensive characterization techniques, including CV, GCD, and long-term cyclic stability tests, revealed compelling evidence of the material’s robust electrochemical behavior. These findings underscore the potential of Zn<inf>0.03</inf>Mn<inf>0.97</inf>Se for supercapacitors, contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy storage. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.