Surface modification and electrochemical performance of KMnO4-ultra-surface area activated carbon (USAC) composites as cathode material

The goal of this study was to analyse the impact of a combination of a sub-active material (KMnO4) with surface modification to the activated carbon surface for enhanced cathode performance. Activated carbon with ultra-specific surface area (USAC, TCK-PBM, 2560.4 m2/g) was used for the preparation of our composite with potassium permanganate (KMnO4). The physical characteristics of this As-treated USAC sample were analysed through XRD, SEM and EDX analysis. The XRD analysis was used to examine structural properties; surface analysis undertaken by SEM; EDX analysis was used to measure the metal content of the sample as well as the content after treatment with KMnO4. It was shown USAC treated with KMnO4 had more than a 10.5 μg acidic group by the Boehm titration method. The electrochemical properties of KMnO4-USAC were investigated for varying electrolyte concentration (0.1, 0.5, 1.2 and 6 M) at ambient temperature (25 °C) and the electrode showed great electrochemical performance after ten cycles.