Manganese oxide is
a fascinating material for use as a thin-film
electrode in supercapacitors. Herein, the consequences of copper incorporation
on spray pyrolyzed manganese oxide thin films and their electrochemical
performance were investigated. The Cu-incorporated manganese oxide
thin films were deposited by spray pyrolysis, and their structural
and electrochemical properties were thoroughly evaluated. The formation
of the spinel Mn
3
O
4
phase with effective Cu
incorporation was confirmed by X-ray diffraction investigation. Through
Raman studies, it was noticed that mixed phases of manganese oxide
tend to form after Cu incorporation, and this result was also reflected
in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies. The surface morphology
and roughness were also altered by the addition of copper. However,
electrochemical measurements implied a reduction in the specific capacitance
upon copper inclusion. The cyclic voltammetry test indicated a specific
capacitance of 132 F/g for Mn
3
O
4
electrodes,
but a substantial drop for copper-incorporated samples due to the
mixed manganese phase. The decremental tendency was further supported
by galvanostatic charge–discharge studies and electrochemical
impedance spectroscopic measurements. These results provide valuable
insights into the effects of copper addition in manganese oxide thin-film-based
electrodes for energy storage applications.