Abdollahifar M.Huang S.-S.Lin Y.-H.Lin Y.-C.Shih B.-Y.Sheu H.-S.Liao Y.-F.Wu N.-L.2019-05-172019-05-17201803787753https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/409030Although ZnMn2O4 is widely studied as Li-ion battery anodes, it remains a challenge to tailor suitable microstructures of the oxide for supercapacitor applications. Carbon-coated ZnMn2O4 (C@ZMO) nanocrystallites showing high-performance pseudocapacitor behaviours in neutral aqueous electrolyte are for the first time successfully synthesised via a novel solution combustion process using polyethylene glycol as a multifunctional microstructure-directing agent. Controlling the molecular weight and amount of the polymer in the combustion solution enables the formation of highly-crystalline C@ZMO having substantially higher, by more than 5 folds, specific surface areas with mesoporous structures and conformal carbon coating via the one-pot synthesis process. The resulting C@ZMO supercapacitor electrodes in Na2SO4(aq) electrolyte exhibit ideal capacitive behaviours with specific capacitances up to 150 F g?1 and cycle stability showing no capacitance fade after 10,000 cycles at 60% of full capacity and >99% Coulombic efficiency. This study not only illustrates a new powerful synthesis route capable of producing conductive mesoporous crystalline oxide-based nanomaterials for energy storage applications but also reveals a new class of high-performance pseudocapacitive materials for neutral aqueous electrolytes. ? 2017Neutral electrolytePseudocapacitorSolution combustionSpinelZnMn2O4 nanocrystallite[SDGs]SDG7Capacitance; Carbon; Combustion; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Lithium compounds; Lithium-ion batteries; Mesoporous materials; Microstructure; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanocrystallites; Nanocrystals; Sodium sulfate; Supercapacitor; Zinc compounds; Energy storage applications; Neutral electrolytes; Pseudo-capacitive materials; Solution combustion; Solution combustion process; Spinel; Supercapacitor application; ZnMn2O4; Manganese compoundsjournal article10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.12.0222-s2.0-85038015463https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85038015463&doi=10.1016%2fj.jpowsour.2017.12.022&partnerID=40&md5=4c2cf211bfec5728332bc24806153a12