Morphology-correlated optical dispersion and pseudocapacitive charge storage of α-MnO2 electrodes towards simultaneous enhancement of optical transparency and areal capacitance.

Herein, we presented the fabrication of α-MnO 2 thin film pseudocapacitive electrodes with enhanced optical transparency and areal capacitance. The optimized electrodes were achieved through a low-energy, binder-free, hexamethylenetetramine-assisted electrodeposition. Before this, attempts to increase the optical transparency of MnO 2 electrodes had only been successful by reducing its mass load and thickness, which compromised its storage capacity. In this study, analysis of the optical dispersion properties of MnO 2 was combined with the electrochemical investigation to demonstrate a nexus between nano-morphology, transparency and storage capacity. [Display omitted] • MnO 2 thin films were electrodeposited on a transparent substrate. • Morphological structures of MnO 2 thin film were tuned by hexamethylenetetramine. • Successful blue-shifting of the absorption edge of MnO 2 thin films was achieved. • HMTA-assisted electrodeposited MnO 2 films exhibited improved storage capacity and transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]