A facile synthesis of hierarchical α-MnO2 nanofibers on 3D-graphene foam for supercapacitor application

•Synthesis of α-MnO2 nanofibers (~5–10 nm) by a facile solution growth (SG) method.•Decoration of 1D MnO2 nanofibers on 3D-graphene foam (GF).•Supercapacitive study of MnO2/GF and conventional MnO2/CC electrodes.•Maximum capacitance (670 F g−1) is found for α-MnO2/GF electrode.

Prominence of current work mainly conveys synthesis of α-MnO2 nanofibers on 3D-graphene foam (GF) by solution growth (SG) method and its proficient influence in electrochemical supercapacitors’ performance. The α-MnO2 nanofibers are synthesized on graphene surface by using MnSO4 and ammonium persulfate as an oxidant. The results show formation of aggregated bundles (size about 15–30 nm) of 1D α-MnO2 nanofibers on the graphene surface. In supercapacitor, the unique nanofibrous morphology of MnO2 on 3D GF electrode exhibits higher specific capacitance (670 F g−1) than on the conventional current collector (CC) electrode (440 F g−1).