Exploring Ag/Mn3O4 composite nanorods as an attractive battery-type electrode material for supercapacitors

Manganese oxide (Mn_XO_X) nanoparticles have garnered significant interest for use in supercapacitor applications. Herein, Ag/Mn₃O₄ nanocomposite is successfully synthesized using the sol-gel technique, with Withania somnifera leaf extract serving as a reducing agent. SEM analysis confirmed the formation of Ag/Mn₃O₄ nanorods, while absorbance peaks revealed at 442 and 323 nm, further validating the composite's formation of Ag/Mn₃O₄. This was also corroborated by XRD pattern. The elemental composition analysed through EDAX analysis supported the result of composite synthesis. Subsequently, Ag/Mn₃O₄ nanocomposite was prepared as an electrode, and its electrochemical performance was evaluated. Supercapacitor studies indicated that the cyclic voltammetry curves exhibited Faradaic behaviour with a discussion on the potential contribution of Faradaic ions, which resulted in the classification of the electrode as a battery-type electrode. The fabricated Ag/Mn₃O₄ electrode demonstrated a specific capacitance of 338 Fg^-1 at a current density 1 Ag^-1, with cyclic retention of 87.35 %. Hence, the Ag/Mn₃O₄ electrode is deemed highly suitable for electrochemical energy storage applications.