Spinel LiMn2O4 nanohybrid as high capacitance positive electrode material for supercapacitors

•LiMn2O4 nanohybrid has been prepared using α-MnO2 nanotubes and LiOH at 700 °C.•It consists of nanotubes, nanorods and nanoparticles.•Its formation mechanism is explained.•It exhibits a high specific capacitance of 415 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 in 0.5 mol l−1 Li2SO4 aqueous solution.•A supercapacitor using LiMn2O4 nanohybrid as the positive electrode in aqueous solution presents good cycling.

A LiMn2O4 nanohybrid consisting of nanotubes, nanorods and nanoparticles has been synthesized using α-MnO2 nanotubes from hydrothermal reaction as a precursor. It is characterized with X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. A formation mechanism is proposed. As a positive electrode material for supercapacitors, it exhibits a high specific discharge capacitance of 415 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 in 0.5 mol l−1 Li2SO4 aqueous solution. Even at 10 A g−1, it still has a specific discharge capacitance of 208 F g−1. The energy density of the asymmetric supercapacitor using activated carbon as the negative electrode and LiMn2O4-nanohybrid as the positive electrode in the aqueous solution in the voltage range of 0–1.8 V presents 29.8 Wh kg−1 at power density of 90 W kg−1. In addition, the cycling behavior of the asymmetric supercapacitor is good.