Synthesis and pseudocapacitive behaviors of biomorphic mesoporous tubular MnO₂ templated from cotton

Biomorphic mesoporous MnO₂ tubes were prepared by a simple impregnation of potassium permanganate solution on cotton template followed by calcination in air. The as-prepared MnO₂ was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry analysis (TG-DSC), N ₂ adsorption and desorption measurements and electrochemical workstation. The MnO₂ tubes replicated the morphology of natural cotton and were composed of nanoparticles about 100 nm in size. Compared with the bulk MnO₂, which was obtained by the direct thermal-decomposition of MnO₂ precursor, the biomorphic MnO₂ tubes displayed much better pseudocapaictive properties due to the higher special surface area and the unique mesoporous structure.