Facile synthesis of porous Mn-doped Co3O4 oblique prisms as an electrode material with remarkable pseudocapacitance

Novel Mn-doped Co3O4 oblique prisms (Mn@Co3O4 OPs) were successfully fabricated via a simple solvothermal reaction in a mixed solvent of ethanol and water, and followed by a calcination treatment of the precursor at 550 degrees C in air. The Mn@Co3O4 OPs exhibited a BET surface area of ca. 45 m(2) g(-1), a pore size distribution centered at 8.5 nm, and an average pore diameter of around 15.6 nm as well. The Mn@Co3O4-OPs-modified electrode possessed an exceptional electrochemical performance with a specific capacitance as high as 909 F g(-1) at a current density of 1 A g(-1), a good rate capability with a capacity retention of 78.2% at 16 A g(-1), and a superior cycling durability with 71.2% of its original capacitance retained after 5000-cycling process at 5 A g(-1) in potassium hydroxide aqueous electrolyte. The excellent electrochemical behaviors are probably ascribed to both the Mn doping into the Co3O4 crystal structure and the mesoporous feature of electrode material which can provide an increased conductivity and fast transfer for ions and electrons. The results suggest that the Mn@Co3O4 OPs may serve as a promising electrode material applicable to supercapacitors.