Prem Sagar Shukla1,Anant Agrawal2,Anurag Gaur3,Ghanshyam Varma1
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee1,National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra2,Netaji Subhas University of Technology3
Prem Sagar Shukla1,Anant Agrawal2,Anurag Gaur3,Ghanshyam Varma1
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee1,National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra2,Netaji Subhas University of Technology3
Energy sources that are reliable as well as sustainable have become essential in the present technological world. Our dependency on fossil fuels has its limitations, is not sustainable, and has a number of consequences, including greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and hazardous waste. Researchers have focused on supercapacitors as next-generation energy storage devices due to their quick charge/discharge rate and outstanding cycle stability. Because of their excellent power delivery and quick charging characteristics, supercapacitors have significant advantages for high-power applications. This study aims to determine how Zn doping at the cobalt site of MnCo<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> affects its electrochemical properties. In this approach, we have synthesized Zn-doped MnCo<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanomaterial abbreviated as ZMCO for supercapacitor electrodes. The XRD and HRTEM results confirm the presence of cubic phase of ZMCO. Surface area and morphology were also studied through BET and FESEM measurements, respectively. Among all the samples, MnZn<sub>0.4</sub>Co<sub>1.6</sub>O<sub>4</sub> shows better electrochemical performance due to its larger specific surface area and mesoporous distribution of pore size. Moreover, the single electrode showed excellent cycling stability along with good coulombic efficiency. To evaluate the practical utility of the synthesized nanomaterial, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device was fabricated. The device was fabricated with the ZMCO nanomaterial as a cathode and activated carbon as an anode electrode. The device exhibited a higher power density and specific energy density. The device also shows excellent cycling stability in PVA/KOH gel electrolyte. Additionally, a single device illuminates a red LED, while connecting two devices in series illuminate red and green LED. We believe Zn doped MnCo<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> provides a lot of potential for making higher-performance supercapacitor devices because of its simple synthesis process and superior electrochemical characteristics.