Sol–gel electrospun mesoporous ZnMn2O4 nanofibers with superior specific surface area

Abstract

ZnMn<inf>2</inf>O<inf>4</inf> has application potential in lithium ion batteries, supercapacitors, sensors, and thermistors. In this study, mesoporous spinel ZnMn<inf>2</inf>O<inf>4</inf> nanofibers were synthesized by sol–gel assisted electrospinning combined with calcination, using poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) as sacrificial polymeric binder. Structural, morphological and optical properties of these ceramic nanofibers were characterized. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results revealed the presence of hexagonal ZnMnO<inf>3</inf> and MnO phases in the ZnMn<inf>2</inf>O<inf>4</inf> nanofibers produced. Based on these observations we propose a plausible mechanism of formation of ZnMn<inf>2</inf>O<inf>4</inf> nanofibers. The nanofibers calcined at 773 K exhibit a specific surface area of 79.5 m2 g?1, which is higher than that of the zinc manganite nanofibers synthesized hitherto by sol–gel electrospinning. Moreover, this material exhibits four bandgaps, which is believed to be the first observation in ZnMn<inf>2</inf>O<inf>4</inf> nanofibers. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.