Fabrication and characterization of ZnO/MnO2 and ZnO/TiO2 flexible nanocomposites for energy storage applications

ZnO based nanostructure composites are attractive for high-tech applications of energy conversion and energy storage due to wide range in operating potential window. This study presents about fabrication of ZnO/MnO₂ and ZnO/TiO₂ composites via hydrothermal method in two consecutive steps. Furthermore lignocelluloses fiber directly collected form self-growing plant Monochoria Vagina, were incorporated in fabricated ZnO/MnO₂ and ZnO/TiO₂ composites for development of flexible and bulk paper composite electrode. The structural and morphological analysis were carried out using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. XRD analysis confirm the crystalline structures for ZnO/MnO₂ and ZnO/TiO₂ samples with crystallite size ∼62 nm and ∼63 nm, respectively. SEM images shows the sheet-like and nanorods morphology for ZnO and MnO₂ nanostructures, respectively. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy absorbance spectrum reveal the composite formation of ZnO/MnO₂/LC and ZnO/TiO₂/LC as bulk paper electrodes whereas cyclic Voltammetry measurement showed the capacitive behavior of composite paper electrodes for the suitable applications in supercapacitors and batteries.