The Effect of Nonionic Surfactant Triton X-100 during Electrochemical Deposition of MnO[sub 2] on Its Capacitance Properties

Manganese dioxide has been considered as a promising material for electrochemical supercapacitors. In order to obtain a high specific capacitance, has been electrodeposited from an aqueous solution of consisting of a neutral surfactant, namely, Triton X-100. The electrodeposited films of in the presence of the surfactant possess greater porosity and hence greater surface area in relation to the films prepared in the absence of the surfactant. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling experiments reveal that specific capacitance is higher by about 59% due to the effect of Triton X-100. As surfactants are known to form micelles at a critical concentration, studies have been conducted to arrive at an appropriate concentration of Triton X-100. Accordingly, it has been found that Triton X-100 in solution is the optimum composition of the electrolyte for obtaining a maximum specific capacitance. Extended charge-discharge cycling studies indicate that superior performance of due to Triton X-100 is seen throughout the life-cycle.