Amorphous MnO2 on Carbon Substrate with Ordered Submicron Pore Array Structure for High Performance Supercapacitor Electrode.

MnO2/C composite with ordered submicron pore array structure was obtained by using Atrophaneura horishana butterfly wings as template and carbon source for high performance supercapacitor electrode. Micro/nanostructured carbon substrate was firstly constructed by calcining the wing specimen under nitrogen atmosphere. Then, amorphous MnO2 was formed on the structure via surface solution reaction. The as-prepared composite shows a high specific capacitance of 1342 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 with good rate capability and stability. The excellent charge-discharge performance should be attributed to the coupling effect of pseudocapacitive amorphous MnO2 and robust porous carbon. The pore array structured substrate not only provides high specific surface area for sufficient active sites, but also exhibits good connectivity for efficient charge and mass transport.