Development of surface-activated La0.6Ca0.4MnO3 perovskite-type electrodes using oxygen plasma for highly stable supercapacitor application

This study introduces a novel and efficient approach for synthesizing perovskite-type nanoparticles and advanced plasma surface activation to significantly improve the supercapacitor's performance. High-purity La_0.6Ca_0.4MnO₃ (LCMO) perovskite nanoparticles with a crystalline structure were synthesized using a facile coprecipitation technique, followed by an innovative low-pressure DC glow-discharge plasma treatment in an oxygen atmosphere. This plasma surface activation process enhances the surface properties of the nanoparticles and boosts their electrochemical performance, representing a transformative modification method for energy storage materials. Detailed analysis of the synthesized and surface-activated LCMO (SA@LCMO) nanoparticles revealed a well-defined cubic morphology with a remarkable surface area of 95 m²/g, as confirmed by TEM and BET analysis. The plasma-treated SA@LCMO electrodes demonstrated superior supercapacitor performance, delivering an impressive specific capacitance of 453 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g more than doubling the 225.8 F/g achieved by untreated LCMO electrodes. Additionally, the SA@LCMO electrodes exhibited exceptional cycle stability, retaining 87 % of their capacitance and achieving a coulombic efficiency of 95.2 % after 10,000 GCD cycles. The material also showed promising energy storage capabilities, with a maximum energy density of 3.92 Wh/kg at a power density of 170.6 W/kg. These results highlight the transformative impact of plasma surface activation on perovskite nanomaterials, positioning the SA@LCMO as a highly promising candidate for next-generation energy storage technologies with superior energy density, durability, and performance. This study introduces new avenues for surface engineering perovskite-based materials to create scalable high-performance energy storage devices.