Porous reduced graphene oxide wrapped carbon nanotube–manganese dioxide nanocables with enhanced electrochemical capacitive performance

Abstract

MnO₂ has ultra-low conductivity for electrodes of supercapacitors. In this research, porous reduced graphene oxide (rGO) wraps on MnO₂ nanoflowers with a conductive carbon nanotube core (CNT–MnO₂). This nanostructure could effectively improve the surface and inner conductivity of the composites. Unlike pristine rGO, the porous rGO does not block the diffusion of electrolyte into the inner part of the composites, which allows the utilization of MnO₂ in this composite capacitor very well. As a result, the as-prepared CNT–MnO₂–porous rGO ternary hybrid material shows superior specific capacitance and rate performance to pristine CNT–MnO₂ nanocables and pristine rGO wrapped CNT–MnO₂ nanocables. This synthesis strategy could be valuable for the design of better performance pseudocapacitive electrodes for supercapacitors.