K-birnessite-MnO2/hollow mulberry-like carbon complexes with stabilized and superior rate performance for aqueous magnesium ion storage.

ABSTRACT

Manganese oxides are commonly employed as a cathode for magnesium ion storage in aqueous magnesium ion hybrid supercapacitors (MHS). However, sluggish reaction kinetics still hinders their practical application. Herein, we designed K-birnessite-MnO2 and electrostatically spun mulberry-like carbon composites (K-MnO2/HMCs) via an in situ growth technique. Benefiting from the 3D conductive carbon network substrate, the in situ fabricated K-MnO2 exhibits more active sites and provides more interfacial contact area between the electrode material and the electrolyte. This improvement enhances its conductivity, facilitating the rapid transfer of electrons, diffusion of ions, and redox reactions. As a result, K-MnO2/HMC-based MHS achieves a specific capacity of 168 mA h g-1 at 0.5 A g-1, simultaneously exhibiting a superior energy density of 111.1 W h kg-1 at a power density of 505 W kg-1. Furthermore, it demonstrates excellent high rate performance and a long cycling life for aqueous magnesium ion storage, offering new insights for MHS applications.