Power loss and energy density of the asymmetric ultracapacitor loaded with molybdenum doped manganese oxide

Ultracapacitors of asymmetric configuration have been prepared with activated carbon (AC) and undoped or Mo-doped manganese oxide (MnO2) in 1.0 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. Phase analysis shows the AC powder, 1–15 μm in size, contains both disordered and graphitic structures, and the undoped and Mo-doped oxide powder, 0.05–0.20 μm in particle size, mainly involves amorphous MnO2 and MoO2. CV results indicate the single electrode of AC plus 10 wt% Mo-doped MnO2 (A9OM1) is superior to the electrode with undoped MnO2 or high content of doped MnO2, exhibiting features of double layer capacitance at high scan rate and pseudocapacitance characteristics at low scan rate. When assembled with a negative electrode of AC, the capacitor of positive A9OM1 electrode demonstrates the least power loss among three asymmetric capacitors. This asymmetric capacitor also shows a higher capacitance than the symmetric AC capacitor when the current density is less than 8.0 A g−1 in 1.8 V potential window. But a higher electrode resistance of A9OM1, in contrast with AC, compromises its capacitance plus. When the energy density of A9OM1 asymmetric capacitor is compared with that of symmetric AC capacitor at the same power level, the capacitance benefit on energy density is restricted to current density ≤ 3.0 A g−1.

► Mo-doping (15 mol%) enhances capacitance and diminishes oxide resistance. ► Influences of Mo-doped MnO2 are analyzed at the level of capacitor power and energy. ► Polarization loss of the asymmetric capacitor is more than that of the symmetric one. ► Pseudocapacitance benefit on energy is evaluated with power and current densities.