Shape-controllable synthesis and electrochemical properties of nanostructured manganese oxides

Several nanostructured manganese oxides with novel shapes were controllably synthesized from the same precursor Na-BirMO via a facile, direct hydrothermal or surging method. The synthesis parameters for nanostructured manganese oxides were investigated, along with their influences on structure, morphology, composition, and electrochemical properties on glass carbon electrode. XRD diffraction showed that the prepared nanostructured manganese oxides belonged to different polymorphs. SEM, TEM, and HRTEM revealed that they had a variety of morphologies, including 0-dimension microspheres, 1-dimension distinct tetragonous and semi-tubular structures, nanorolls, and spindly nanowire bundles. Basis on the experimental results, a rolling rice glue ball formation mechanism for manganese oxide microspheres was proposed. Electrochemical properties were studied on glass carbon electrode (GCE) using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results showed the electrochemical properties depended on the shape, size and crystal structure of the prepared nanostructured manganese oxides.