Investigating the potential of Mg0.5ZnxCu0.5-xFe2O4 nanoparticles for energy storage applications
Ala Manohar, Thirukachhi Suvarna, S.V. Prabhakar Vattikuti, J. Pundareekam Goud, Bandar Ali Al‐Asbahi, Saif M. H. Qaid, Naresh Mameda, Ki Hyeon Kim
Abstract
The electrochemical performance of Mg 0.5 Zn x Cu 0.5-x Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (with x ranging from 0.1 to 0.3) synthesized through the solvothermal reflux method was investigated, with samples designated as MZC1 (Mg 0.5 Zn 0.1 Cu 0.4 Fe 2 O 4 ), MZC2 (Mg 0.5 Zn 0.2 Cu 0.3 Fe 2 O 4 ) and MZC3 (Mg 0.5 Zn 0.3 Cu 0.2 Fe 2 O 4 ). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were used to characterize the structural and morphological properties. The XRD examination showed the production of a crystalline cubic spinel structure, whereas FESEM indicated shape and particle size variations caused by varying Zn 2+ doping levels. The chemical states were determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which involved examining element binding energies. Furthermore, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis revealed that the Zn 2+ doping concentration influenced surface area, pore size, and volume. MZC2 outperformed MZC1 and MZC3 in a 1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte, with a specific capacitance (Cs) of 192.5 Fg -1 at a current density (CD) of 1.75 Ag -1 . These findings indicate that these MZC2 nanoparticles have a high potential for energy storage in supercapacitors . The work demonstrates the potential for improving energy storage capacities by optimizing synthesis conditions and Zn 2+ doping parameters for spinel ferrite electrodes, to expand energy storage applications.