Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177

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Journal of Energy Storage

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Research papers

Electrosynthesis of Co–Mn layered-double-hydroxide as a precursor for

Co-Mn-MOFs and subsequent electrochemical sulfurization for
supercapacitor application
Mahdi Moradi a, Abbas Afkhami a, b, *, Tayyebeh Madrakian a, **, Hamid Reza Moazami c
a
Faculty of Chemistry, Bu Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
b
D-8 International University, Hamedan, Iran
c
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Reseach School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Tehran, Iran

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Today, researchers are focusing on improving the electrochemical efficiency of supercapacitors by designing and
Electrosynthesis evolving synthesis routes for battery-type hierarchical materials. This study proposes a green method for creating
MOF derived high-efficiency positive electrode materials with a mesoporous heterostructure on Ni foam (NF) using a metal-
Electrochemical transformation
organic framework (MOF)-derived approach. A binder-free electrosynthesis technique was utilized to grow
Co-Mn− S
Battery-type electrode materials
CoMn-layered double hydroxide (CoMn-LDH) and exchange ions to obtain a porous metal precursor, namely
Asymmetric supercapacitors binary Co-Mn-MOF. The MOF arrays were then electrochemically converted to CoMn-sulfide (CMS), which ex­
hibits excellent conductivity and a mesoporous structure, enabling it to serve as a 3D continuous network for ion
and electron conduction in energy storage. The synthesized sample was characterized using various techniques,
including field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), elemental mapping, high-resolution trans­
mission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET)
surface area analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Among the prepared
electrode samples, CoMn− S with an Mn/Co feeding ratio of 1:2 demonstrated outstanding electrochemical
properties. Based on this platform, CMS was applied and validated as a positive electrode in supercapacitors,
exhibiting a high specific capacity of 1091C g− 1 at 1 A g− 1 in a three-electrode configuration and remarkable
cycling life (85 % capacitance retention over 7000 cycles at 25 A g− 1). Furthermore, an assembled asymmetric
supercapacitor (ASC) device using CMS as the cathode and AC as the anode demonstrated satisfactory electro­
chemical performance. The CMS//AC device delivers an energy density of 84 Wh kg− 1 at a high power density of
1191.4 W kg− 1 and maintains stable electrochemical stabilities (92 % capacitance retention even after 7000
cycles). This synthesis approach opens up a new avenue for developing binder-free electrodes with hierarchical
structures using metal sulfides, thereby enhancing the electrochemical performance of hybrid supercapacitors.

1. Introduction asymmetric or hybrid SCs using adaptable materials. Hybrid SCs

Electrical energy storage systems (EESs) are a promising solution to
address the challenges of energy demand, greenhouse emissions, and
global warming [1]. Supercapacitors (SCs) have gained attention in
R&D due to their high-power density, long cycle life, and excellent
discharge time [2–4]. However, their lower energy density compared to
rechargeable batteries hinders their practical application [5–7]. One
effective approach to achieving high energy density while maintaining
power density is improving the potential window by assembling
combine carbon materials with non-faradaic electric double-layer
capacitor (EDLC) charge storage mechanisms and pseudocapacitive/
battery-type materials with a Faradaic mechanism in a single-cell
configuration [8,9]. Battery-type materials, such as transition metal
oxides, sulfides, and selenides, store charge through faradic reactions,
with specific capacitance values varying with the voltage window and,
C/g or mAh/g metric [10–12].
Among battery-type materials, transition metal sulfides (TMSs) like
CoS2, NiSx, MnS2, VS2, and NiCo2S4 have garnered significant

* Correspondence to: A. Afkhami, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
** Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: afkhami@basu.ac.ir (A. Afkhami), madrakian@basu.ac.ir (T. Madrakian).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.108177
Received 15 March 2023; Received in revised form 8 June 2023; Accepted 26 June 2023
Available online 10 July 2023
2352-152X/© 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
M. Moradi et al. Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177

Fig. 1. Schematic illustration of the fabrication process of the nanostructured CoMn-S grown uniformly on Ni foam.

Fig. 2. Current-time (Chronoamperometry) curve of the Electrodeposition of Co-Mn-LDH at − 1.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), (a) Typical cyclic voltammograms (CV) curves
during the EC-MOF process (initial 250 CV cycles, scan rate: 0.2 V s− 1) (b).

attention due to their properties. Sulfides have a short band gap that
increases electrical conductivity, facilitates electron transfer, and en­
hances electrochemical efficiency. The low electronegativity of sulfur
allows for structural expansion, improving mechanical flexibility and
cycle life [13,14]. Mixed metal sulfides exhibit higher capacity than
monometallic sulfides due to various oxidation states and synergistic
effects, resulting in enhanced electrical conductivity and electro­
chemical activity [15,16].
Various mixed transition metal sulfides, including CuCo2S4 [17,18],
ZnCo2S4 [19,20], FeCo2S4 [21,22], MnCo2S4 [23–25], and NiCo2S4 [26]
have been extensively explored as supercapacitor electrode materials.
CoMn-S (CMS) is a promising material for supercapacitor electrodes.
The high oxidation potential of cobalt, along with the increased elec­
trons supplied by manganese species and charge transfer between cobalt
and manganese, enhance conductivity and capacity. Cobalt and man­
ganese sulfide compounds are cost-effective, abundant in nature, envi­
ronmentally friendly, and offer high theoretical capacity [27].
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with flexible structures composed
of metal ions and organic linkers are suggested as templates and pre­
cursors with high surface area for active materials with desirable ar­
chitectures and adjustable compositions. Raw MOFs can be converted
into carbon materials, metal oxides, or metal sulfides with desired
structures using simple, controllable, and effective methods. Conven­
tional synthesis methods for MOF-derived materials often rely on chal­
lenging experimental conditions like hydrothermal synthesis and
pyrolysis. However, these methods have drawbacks, including high
energy and time requirements and rapid collapse of the primary MOF
structure. Thus, developing a mild, green, and sustainable method to

2
M. Moradi et al.
Fig. 3. XRD patterns of the (a) CoMn-LDH, (b) CoMn-MOF, (c) CoMn-S.
convert MOFs into active nanomaterials with high surface area for en­
ergy storage applications with a controllable conversion rate and degree
is of great importance. Electrosynthesis of MOF layers on NF substrates
as current collectors enhances the electrical conductivity of the prepared
electrode by eliminating the need for an organic binder. This improve­
ment can lead to increased accuracy and repeatability of the prepared
electrode.
In this research, a binder-free electrosynthesis approach is utilized to
grow CoMn-layered double hydroxide (CoMn-LDH) as a porous metal
precursor for the preparation of binary Co-Mn-MOF through facile ion
exchange. A controlled electrochemical method is then introduced to
convert the MOF into 3D hierarchically porous amorphous CoMn-sulfide
(CMS). Optimization of the Co/Mn ratios and reaction conditions en­
sures the formation of the desired hierarchical architecture, maximizing
the contact surface between the active material and electrolyte, and
achieving high electrical conductivity during synthesis. The synthesized
CMS exhibits outstanding performance when used as an electrode in
supercapacitors, demonstrating a capacitance of 1091 Cg− 1 at 1 Ag− 1
and capacity retention of 58.2 % from 1 to 20 Ag− 1.
An Asymmetric Supercapacitor (ASC) device (with operating po­
tential = 1.6 V) is assembled using CMS as the positive electrode, acti­
vated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode, and filter paper as the
separator, with KOH (3 M) as the electrolyte. This device exhibits a high
energy density of 84 W h kg− 1 and an excellent power density of 1191.4
W kg− 1 at 1 A g− 1, along with remarkable cycling stability (92 %
capacitance retention after 7000 cycles). The results of this research
confirm the effectiveness of the designed route for the hierarchical
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Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177
preparation of metal‑sulfuric compounds in the development of high-
efficiency energy storage devices.
2. Experimental section
2.1. Synthesis
2.1.1. Chemicals &materials
Manganese(II) nitrate tetrahydrate, Mn(NO3)2.4H2O, cobalt nitrate
hexahydrate, Co(NO3)2.6H2O, benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (BTC),
Thiourea, ethanol, hydrochloric acid, HCl (37 %), Potassium nitrate,
KNO3, Potassium chloride, KCl, and Potassium hydroxide, KOH, were
purchased from Merck Company, Ni foam (NF, 0.3 mm thickness),
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, 60 wt% in water), activated carbon
(AC), and carbon black were obtained from Redoxkala, Tehran, Iran,
deionized water (DIW).
2.1.2. Electrosynthesis of MnCo- LDH
Before each synthesis, the NF substrate underwent a pretreatment
process involving sonication with 3 M HCl, deionized water (DIW), and
ethanol for 15 min in the given order. This process aimed to eliminate
organic impurities and nickel oxides formed on the surface. Hierarchical
MnCo-LDH nanosheets were synthesized on the NF substrate using an
electrosynthesis strategy. An electrochemical cell was constructed with
an aqueous solution containing Co(NO3)2⋅6H2O, Mn(NO3)2⋅4H2O, and
KNO3, and a three-electrode arrangement that consisted of the NF sub­
strate, platinum plate, and Ag/AgCl as the working, counter, and
reference electrodes, respectively. Electrodes with different Co:Mn ra­
tios (3:0, 1:2, 1:1, 1:2, and 0:3) were prepared, maintaining a total salt
concentration of 0.05 M and a KNO3 concentration of 0.3 M. CoMn-LDHs
were synthesized using Chronoamperometry at a constant potential of
− 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl for a duration of 400 s. The electrodes were washed
with DIW after deposition and dried at room temperature.
2.1.3. Synthesis of Mn–Co MOF
For the preparation of MnCo-MOF, the LDHs/NF samples were sub­
merged in a 0.15 M BTC ethanol solution consisting of 0.3 g BTC, 2 mL
DIW, and 7 mL absolute ethanol. The immersion time was optimized to
20 min to ensure the complete conversion of MnCo-LDHs to MnCo-BTC
MOFs. Subsequently, the prepared electrode was rinsed with DIW to
eliminate any residual unreacted BTC from the NF surface.
2.1.4. Electrosynthesis of manganese cobalt sulfides (MCS)
The electrochemical conversion of MOF films into hierarchical
MnCo-S was carried out using cyclic voltammetry in a typical three-
electrode system. The MnCo-MOF on NF served as the working elec­
trode, while an Ag/AgCl/saturated KCl electrode and a platinum plate
were used as the reference and counter electrodes, respectively. The
electrolyte for the sulfurization step consisted of 0.5 M Thiourea and 1 M
KCl. Prior to the experiment, the electrolyte solution was purged with N2
gas and stirred for at least 15 min to remove dissolved oxygen. Cyclic
voltammetry cycles were performed between − 1.5 and +0.2 V (vs. Ag/
AgCl/saturated KCl) at a scan rate of 0.2 Vs− 1 for a total of 750 cycles to
complete the synthesis. Following the electrochemical conversion, the
MnCo-S working electrode was rinsed with DIW and dried in a vacuum
oven at 60 ◦ C.
The loading mass of the active material on NF was calculated using
the equation mn − mn-1, where n is the synthesis step. The mass loading
after coating with CoMn-LDH ranged from 2.1 to 2.3 mg cm− 2. After
MOF formation, the mass loading on the NF was increased to about 3 to
3.5 mg cm− 2. However, during the EC-MOF process, there was a mass
loss, resulting in a mass loading of 1.3–1.5 mg cm− 2. This mass loss can
be attributed to the larger molecular mass of released BTC (210.14 g
mol− 1) compared to that of added S2− ions (32 g mol− 1), and the
shedding amount of Co and Mn from the structure during the electro­
chemical conversion.
M. Moradi et al. Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177

Fig. 4. FE-SEM images of the (a) CoMn-LDH, (b) CoMn-MOF, (c) CoMn-S.

2.1.5. Preparation of activated carbon (AC) electrode material, whereas the counter and reference electrodes were platinum
The negative electrode was prepared by dispersing an AC, carbon plate (1 × 2 cm) and Ag/AgCl, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry (CV)
black, and PTFE, (8:1:1 mass ratio) in deionized water, then coating NF data were collected with a potential window of − 0.1 to 0.55 V and a scan
(1 × 1 × 0.03 cm) with the prepared mixture and drying the prepared rate of 1 to 75 mV s− 1. The galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) curves
electrode at 80 ◦ C for 12 h. were measured at current densities from 1 to 25 A g− 1. Based on the
charge-discharge curves, the specific capacity, energy density, and
2.2. Characterization power density is calculated by Eqs. (1)–(3).
∫vb
2.2.1. Materials characterization Cs =
1
I(V)dV (1)
The crystallinity of the synthesized samples was confirmed using X- mv
va
ray diffraction (XRD) analysis (XRD Xpert Pro Panalytical). The
morphology and elemental distribution of the prepared materials were I × Δt
characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy qc = (2)
m
(FESEM, with a ZEISS Sigma 300 microscope), along with energy-
dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) elemental maps. High-resolution Csp × ΔV2
E= (3)
transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) equipped with an Energy 2 × 3.6
Dispersive X-ray (EDX) system was also employed. X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS) analysis was conducted using a Bes Tek Germany E × 3600
P= (4)
instrument to investigate the elemental composition and valence states Δt
of the target elements. The specific surface areas and pore-size distri­ where Cs (C g− 1 for CV tests), and qc (C g− 1 for GCD tests) are the specific
butions were analyzed using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET, BET capacity, E (W h kg− 1), P (W kg− 1), energy density, and power density,
BELSORP Mini II) method and the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) model, respectively. In the above equations, I (A) is the discharge current, Δt is
respectively, through nitrogen sorption measurements conducted at 77 the discharge time, m (g) weight of active material, ϑ scan rate, and ΔV
K. is the operating potential window (V). Under an open-circuit voltage,
electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) were measured at frequency
2.2.2. Electrochemical measurements ranges of 100 kHz to 0.01 Hz. To evaluate the electrochemical perfor­
For electrochemical evaluation of the target electrode, an electro­ mance of the MCS/NF electrode in practical applications, an asymmetric
chemical workstation (Autolab PGSTAT 302 N Model potentiostat/gal­ supercapacitor (ASC) was assembled. The ASC consisted of MCS/NF as
vanostat (Eco-Chemie, Netherland) that was controlled by NOVA 2.1.1 the positive electrode and activated carbon (AC) as the negative
software) was used and the electrochemical tests (three-electrode and electrode.
two-electrode) were performed in KOH aqueous electrolyte (3 mol L− 1).
The working electrode was NF (1 cm2) covered with the synthesis active

4
M. Moradi et al.
Fig. 5. Elemental mapping images for CoMn-S.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Characterization
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the synthesis steps of CMS as a posi­
tive electrode. Firstly, the Electrodeposition of Co–Mn LDH is carried
out using the Chronoamperometry method by applying a constant po­
tential of − 1 V for a duration time of 400 s to allow Mn2+, Co2+, and
OH− ions in solution to be deposited onto the NF substrate, resulting in
Co-Mn− LDH 3D interconnected sheet-like structure. The thickness of
the deposited layer is controlled by the applied potential and time to
ensure uniform optimized film formation over the electrode surface.
The NF substrate gradually changes color to green-blue during LDH
deposition, indicating the presence of Co-Mn-OH. Subsequently, the Co-
Mn-LDH electrode is exposed to an ethanolic solution of the BTC linker,
resulting in the formation of a Co-Mn-BTC MOF film on the NF surface
through an acid-base reaction between LDH and BTC. Finally, the Co-
Mn-BTC MOF precursor undergoes an anion-exchange reaction in an
electrochemical conversion process, transforming into the CMS struc­
ture while retaining the morphology.
By applying an optimized fixed potential of − 1 V to the working
electrode, OH− ions are produced on the surface of the electrode as a
result of NO−3 reduction in accordance with the following reaction [28].
NO−3 + H2 O + 2e− →NO−2 + 2OH− (5)
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Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177
The co-precipitation reaction of OH− anion with Co2+ , and Mn2+
cations have led to the formation of CoMn-LDH nanoflake structures
according to the following reaction on the NF surface [28,29].
Co2+ + Mn2+ + nOH− →CoMn − LDH (6)
Applying a constant potential in the initial phase results in a decrease
in current to its minimum value, indicating the formation of an electric
double-layer charge. This is followed by the electrodeposition of elec­
troactive species onto the electrode surface, as depicted in Fig. 2a (zone
a). Subsequently, the current starts to increase, marking the initiation of
the nucleation reaction, which is the rate-limiting step. During this stage
(zone b), both the nucleus growth and the formation of nanoparticles
and nanosheets occur. This process continues until the end of the 400-
second duration (zone c) [30].
A three-step mechanism has been proposed for the conversion of
CoMn-LDH to CoMn-MOF, involving pseudomorphic transformations,
crystal growth, and Ostwald ripening processes [31]. Upon exposure of
LDH to the linker, MOF crystals rapidly form on the surface of LDH
nanosheets, leading to an increase in the thickness of the layers. Initially,
the conversion from LDH to MOFs primarily occurs at the interface of the
nanosheets, with a “dissolution-redeposition” mechanism dominating
the conversion process. As the reaction time progresses, the MOFs grow
on the nanosheets, resulting in an increase in both the diameter and
roughness of the sheets. At 8 min, vertical nanosheets are no longer
M. Moradi et al.
Fig. 6. XPS survey spectra (a), Co 2p pattern (b), Mn 2p pattern (c), S 2p pattern (d) of MnCo-S.
observed, and the surface becomes flat and densely covered with MOFs.
After 9 min, MOF crystals start to grow in the form of rods. This growth
process continues for 20 min, and subsequently, no significant changes
in size and morphology are observed. This stage represents the domi­
nance of Ostwald ripening in the process.
During the electrochemical conversion, MOF (EC-MOF) step, optimal
conditions (scan rate = 0.2 V s− 1, potential window − 1.5–0.2 V, and
number cycle = 750) are applied using the cyclic voltammetry method.
The OH− formed as a result of water oxidation causes the hydrolysis of
Thiourea and then produces S2− . Then, S2− performs an ion exchange
with the linker and replaces it, and Co-Mn-S is formed. The color of the
electrode turned black once the ion was exchanged, which is a charac­
teristic of Co-Mn− S. Fig. 2b shows the CV curves (initial 250) of the
formation of CMS due to the electrochemical conversion of CoMn-MOF
on NF in an aqueous solution containing 1 M KCl (supporting electro­
lyte) and 0.5 M Thiourea (sulfur source) with a scan rate of 0.2 V s− 1 and
saturated with N2 gas. As can be seen in the figure, in addition to the
reduction-oxidation peaks, their shift towards positive and negative
potentials with the progress of the reaction indicates the formation of
the electrochemical active substance. Since in this potential range,
Thiourea does not show any peaks, the presence of these peaks in CV
indicates the formation of CMS.
A set of characterization techniques have been used to confirm the
construction of CMS on NF. X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation was
used to study the phase information and crystal structure of the syn­
thesized products. Fig. 3(a–c) shows the glancing angle X-ray Diffraction
(GAXRD) pattern of the fabricated electrodes (CoMn-LDH, CoMn-MOF,
and CMS). For all three synthesized electrodes, three peaks with high
intensity at 2θ values of 44.8, 52.3, and 76.7, which attributed to the
crystal planes of (111), (200), and (220) of the NF substrate [32]. Fig. 3a
presents the XRD pattern of the MnCo-LDH precursor, in which the
diffraction peaks at 2θ extent of 11.9, 26.4, 39.2, and 68.6 by the (003),
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Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177
(006), (009), and (110) crystal planes are observed, which is consistent
with hydrotalcite-like morphology (JCPDS: 10-0144) [33,34]. The XRD
pattern of the synthesized MOF crystals indicates 2θ values similar to the
values of the major peaks reported in references [35–37] for Co-BTC,
Mn-BTC, and CoMn-BTC (Fig. 3b). The electrochemical conversion sul­
furized product shows diffraction peaks at 34.4◦ , 38◦ , 58.7◦ , and
60.8◦ corresponding to (311), (400), (440), and (444) crystal planes of
the orthorhombic CMS (JCPDS: 23-1237), respectively (Fig. 3c) [38].
These results demonstrate the successful synthesis of the CMS structure
on NF.
To study the morphology of product samples such as CoMn-LDH,
CoMn-MOF, and CMS synthesized on NF, FE-SEM images of prepared
and evaluated (Fig. 4(a–c)). FE-SEM images (Fig. 4a) of CoMn- LDH
reveal a hollow structure of uniformly assembled nanosheets formed on
NF, and the thickness of these nanosheets is approximately less than 50
nm. These interconnected and 3D network structures with high open
space could help improve the reaction of the linker with Co and Mn for
creating MOF. Fig. 4b displays the synthesized CoMn-MOF with a typical
rod-like structure with average thicknesses of about 800 nm × 350 nm.
Higher magnification shows that the synthesized MOF contains smooth
surfaces. After electrochemical conversion and ion exchange, the CMS
sample shows a cauliflower-like structure with a high surface area
(Fig. 4c). Furthermore, Fig. 5 illustrates the elemental mapping result of
CMS, clearly depicting the signals of Mn, Co, and S elements, along with
their respective elemental distributions.
The surface chemical composition and elemental valence states of
CMS were characterized using XPS analysis, as shown in Fig. 6a–d. The
full survey spectrum (Fig. 6a) (1000–0 Ev) reveals the coexistence of Mn,
Co, S, C, and O elements. The O element may be attributed to water
molecules, while the C element suggests the presence of organic mate­
rials absorbed on the sample surface. High-resolution XPS analysis
further investigated the elemental composition. Two significant peaks in
M. Moradi et al.
Fig. 7. (a) TEM image of CoMn-S separated from the NF, (b) HR-TEM images, (c) SAED pattern, and (d) EDX images of the CoMn-S.
the binding energy range of 810 to 760 (eV) indicate the presence of
Co2p1/2 and Co2p3/2, and each of these peaks can be indexed at 805,
798, 782, and 772 (eV) respectively, which indicate the presence of the
+3 and +2 oxidation states in CMS (Fig. 6b) [39]. Fig. 6c illustrates how
the Mn2p spectra (with two shakeup satellites) can be deconvoluted into
two peaks at 644.415 and 626.654 eV for the Mn 2p3/2 and Mn 2p1/2,
indicating the coexistence of +2 and +3 valence states of Mn species
from the product [39]. The S 2p region’s core-level spectrum is depicted
in Fig. 6d, where S 2p1/2 and S 2p3/2 are represented by binding energies
of 165.22 and 163.33 eV, respectively. These results supported the
synthesized CMS material and are compatible with the mapping study
[40]. The detailed intrinsic morphological characteristics and crystal­
linity properties of the CoMn-S were further confirmed by HR-TEM,
SAED, and EDS analysis, which are exhibited in Fig. 7. For the HR-
TEM analysis, the sample was prepared by peeling out the CoMn-S
from NF using scratch. The collected sample was then dispersed in
DIW under ultrasonication, dropped on a copper grid, and introduced
into the HR-TEM chamber. From the low-magnification TEM image in
Fig. 7a, rod-like CoMn-S with hierarchical and intertwined nano-
architectured morphology were presented. The d-spacing from the lat­
tice fringes of Fig. 7b is about 0.18, 0.23, and 0.36 corresponding to the
(440), (400), and (311), respectively plane of CoMn-S [39,41,42]. The
representative selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern of
CoMn-S showed ring pattern spots, indicative of the polycrystalline
nature (Fig. 7c). Moreover, the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum
CoMn-S (Fig. 7d) unambiguously confirms that the structure is
composed of Co, Mn, and S. The BET analysis and pore size distribution
were recorded by N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms at 77 K. The re­
sults are shown in Fig. 8(a–c). We observed that all products possess the
typical type-IV curve accompanied by H3 hysteresis characteristic loops
within a high relative pressure range of 0.5–1.0 P/P0, implying the na­
ture of the mesoporous structure. The specific surface areas (SSA) of
7
Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177
CoMn-LDH, CoMn-MOF, and CoMn-S are around 134.86, 110.71, and
197 m2 g− 1, respectively. The pore size distributions are given in the
inset of figures. The pore size for the samples is mainly centered at 5–20
nm coordinated with the property of mesoporous materials. According
to the test results, the pronounced enhancement of the SSA for CoMn-S is
largely attributed to the complex composition and hierarchical hollow
nanostructure, which is beneficial to provide abundant electrochemical
accessible active sites for the intimate contact of electrode/electrolyte
and quickening the ions transfer and storage. These results demonstrate
that the as-prepared CoMn-S nano architectures have been successfully
prepared and can be used for high-performance positive electrodes in
hybrid SCs.
3.2. Electrochemical measurements
3.2.1. Three electrode tests
The electrochemical performance of the synthesized electrode for
supercapacitor applications was evaluated using a three-electrode sys­
tem. It was observed that the specific capacity of CMS depends on the
Co: Mn ratio. To investigate this relationship, different Co: Mn ratios
(3:0, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 0:3) were prepared, and the results of these ex­
periments are depicted in Fig. 9(a–b). The charge storage capacity is
related to the area enclosed by the cyclic voltammetry (CV) curve and
the discharge time obtained from the galvanostatic charge/discharge
(GCD) curve. As shown in Fig. 9a, the CV curve of the CMS sample with a
Co/Mn ratio of 2:1 exhibits the largest area, indicating the highest
charge storage capacity among the tested samples. The specific capacity
initially increases with the introduction of manganese ions to the cobalt
sulfide structure, reaching a maximum at the Co/Mn ratio of 2:1, and
then decreasing. This suggests that the incorporation of manganese ions
into the cobalt sulfide structure has a synergistic effect, leading to an
improvement in the specific capacity. The observed effect can be
M. Moradi et al.
Fig. 8. N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms for (a) CoMn-LDH, (b) CoMn-MOF, and (c) CoMn-S (the insets show pore size distribution).
attributed to two reasons. Firstly, the combination of CMS with a mixed
composition of cobalt and manganese sulfides results in a richer redox
reaction compared to monometallic sulfides. This enhances the elec­
trochemical performance and contributes to the higher specific capacity.
Secondly, the increase in the amount of manganese in Co-sulfide leads to
a decrease in the degree of crystallization. This reduced crystallinity can
benefit the specific capacity as highly crystalline structures may
encounter limitations in ion penetration and diffusion, hindering the
expansion and contraction processes. Therefore, the presence of man­
ganese helps alleviate diffusion limitations and improves the specific
capacity [43,44]. To further explore the capacitance property of as-
obtained electrodes, the GCDs were tested with a potential window of
0–0.4 V. Fig. 9b displays the GCD traces of as-prepared five electrodes at
5 A g− 1. The CMS electrode with a Co/Mn ratio of 2:1 clearly exhibits the
longest discharge time compared to the other electrodes at the same
current density, implying the highest value of specific capacitance. The
CV curves of CMS/NF at a scan rate of 5 V s− 1 are compared with those of
MnCo MOF/NF and MnCo-LDH/NF, as shown in Fig. 10a. All three
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Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177
electrodes exhibit reversible redox signals of the active species in the
prepared material, indicating a Faradic capacitive behavior character­
istic of a battery-type electrode. The CV curve areas of electrode MCS/
NF are significantly larger than those of the other electrodes, indicating
a higher charge storage capacity. This can be attributed to the distinctive
structural design of MCS, which ensures excellent adhesion to the NF
substrate, as well as the highly porous structure derived from the MOF
template. These factors create more active sites for redox reactions and
increase the electrode/electrolyte surface contact. Furthermore, the
presence of sulfide in the active substance structure enhances the con­
ductivity and electrochemical efficiency of the prepared electrode. It is
important to note that the electrochemical capacity of CMS is derived
from the quasi-reversible electron transfer processes, which incorporate
the redox couples Co2+/Co3+ and Mn2+/Mn3+/Mn4+. Therefore, the
charge storage mechanism for the suggested electrode is correlated to
the following reactions [45].
Mn Co S + OH− + H2 O ↔ MnSOH + CoSOH + 2e− (7)
M. Moradi et al.
Fig. 9. (a) CV curves, and (b) GCD of CoMn-S electrodes for the five Co: Mn ratios tested (acquired at a sweep rate of 5 mV s−
MnSOH + OH− ↔ MnSO + H2 O + e− (8)
CoSOH + OH− ↔ CoSO + H2 O + e− (9)
Consistent with the CV results, a comparison of the galvanostatic
charge/discharge (GCD) tests (Fig. 10b) of the three electrodes dem­
onstrates that the proposed CMS electrode has a higher energy storage
capacity compared to the other two electrodes.
To further evaluate the electrochemical efficiency, electrochemical
impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were conducted. Nyquist
plots were obtained in a KOH 3 M electrolyte solution within a frequency
range of 0.01 Hz to 100 kHz at an applied potential of 0.3 V. These
measurements allow the characterization of the intrinsic resistance and
electrochemical kinetics of the electrodes. Fig. 10c shows the Nyquist
plots of CoMn-LDH, CoMn-MOF, and CMS electrodes with the equiva­
lent circuit model provided as an inset. The Nyquist plots consist of two
main parts a semicircular region which shows the charge transfer
resistance (Rct) at high frequencies, and the Warburg line which occurs
at low frequencies. The Rct value of CMS (0.52 Ω) is smaller than CoMn-
MOF (0.6 Ω), and CoMn-LDH (0.54 Ω), respectively, indicating a faster
charge transfer process and good electrical conductivity. The Warburg
line shows the resistance of the diffusion rate of electrolyte ions during
the redox reaction process, which for the CMS sample is lower than the
other two species and indicates the optimal diffusion rate of electrolyte
ions and excellent electron transfer kinetics. Upon increasing the scan­
ning rate from 1 to 75 mV s− 1, a series of CV curves with a couple of
redox peaks was generated (Fig. 11a). It is noteworthy that the anodic
peaks shift towards positive potentials, while the cathodic peaks shift
towards negative potentials. This behavior is attributed to the difference
in the diffusion rate of the electrolyte ions, which is not sufficiently fast
to facilitate the electrochemical processes within the active electrode
material at higher scanning rates.
The specific capacity, Cs (C g− 1), was calculated using Eq. (1): The
Specific capacity of CMS electrode at a scan rate of 2, 5, 8, 10, 15, 25, 50,
and 75 mV s− 1 was 1110.8C g− 1, 1028.9C g− 1, 948.6C g− 1, 910.9C g− 1,
836.9C g− 1, 743.5C g− 1, 570.1C g− 1, 425.5C g− 1, respectively. Fig. 11b
shows the specific capacity curve as a function of the scan rates. The
specific capacitance values decrease with increasing scan rates. At high
scan rates, the OH− ions access the outer surface of the electrode
whereas, at low scan rates the OH− ions intercalate well with the outer
9
Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177
1
and 5 A g− 1, respectively).
and inner pore surfaces. This low accessibility of OH− ions resulted in
the decrease of the specific capacitance value towards higher scan rates
[46].
To investigate the kinetics of charge storage and distinguish between
capacitive behavior and diffusion-controlled processes, the CV curve
data at different scan rates were analyzed.
According to the power law equation (Eq. (10)) [47]:
i = aϑb (10)
log(i) = blogϑ + loga (11)
The parameters of a, and b are adjustable, where b is the slope, and a
is the intercept of the linear plot of log (i) vs. log (ϑ). According to the
Randles–Sevcik equation (Eq. (12)) [48], when b = 0.5, the current is
proportional to ϑ1/2 :
( )1/2
αnf
i = nFAC* D1/2 ϑ1/2 π1/2 X(bt) (12)
RT
The diffusion-controlled nature of the current response suggests a
faradaic intercalation mechanism, as indicated by Eq. (13). If b = 1, the
capacitive response can be represented by the following equation, as the
capacitive current is proportional to the sweep rate [49].
i = ϑCd A (13)
Fig. 11c presents the data analyzed for anodic and cathodic peaks for
the CMS electrode. The b-value for the anodic and cathodic peaks is 0.54
and 0.61 respectively, which indicates the coexistence of two kinds of
mechanisms in the electrochemical process of energy storage.
To quantitatively resolve the contribution from capacitive and
battery-like processes in the total charge, the following general rela­
tionship which holds for any material regardless of the charge transfer
process can be used:
1
i (V) = k1 ϑ + k2 ϑ2 (14)
where k1 and k2 denote the coefficients for capacitive and battery-like
currents, respectively. According to Eq. (14), for a redox reaction
1
limited by semi-infinite linear diffusion, the i(V) varies with ϑ2 , and for a
capacitive process, the i(V) varies directly with ϑ. Eq. (14) can be
M. Moradi et al. Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177

Fig. 10. (a) Comparison of CV curves of typical CoMn-LDH, CoMn-MOF, and CoMn-S electrodes at scan rate 5 mV s− 1, (b) Comparison of GCD curves of typical
CoMn-LDH, CoMn-MOF, and CoMn-S electrodes at a current density of 5 A g− 1, (c) EIS spectra for the CoMn-LDH, CoMn-MOF, and CoMn-S electrodes. Insets:
equivalent circuit for the Nyquist plots.

rearranged as: behavior, as depicted in the figure, with two distinct voltage plateaus.
These plateaus correspond to the cyclic voltammetry (CV) plots and
i(V)
(15) indicate the electrochemical performance of the active material as a
1
1 = k1 ϑ2 + k2
ϑ2 battery-type electrode. Battery-type materials and pseudocapacitors can
The parameters k1 and k2 values for each electrode are calculated be distinguished based on their cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves. Battery-
from the slope and y-interception of the plot by linearly fitting the i(V)
1
type materials exhibit faradic redox peaks that are separated by a sig­
1
ϑ2
nificant potential difference, while pseudocapacitor materials display
versus ϑ . The contribution ratio of the surface-controlled and diffusion-
2
completely reversible redox peaks. Battery-type materials often show
dominated process at a series of scan rates from 1 to 75 mV s− 1 are asymmetrical phases in their CV curves, leading to distinct charge-
observed in Fig. 11d. The results show that the capacitive contribution discharge curves with voltage plateaus. In contrast, pseudocapacitors
ratio of CMS electrode gradually increases from 26.7 % to 75.9 % as the exhibit more symmetrical behavior in their CV curves and do not typi­
increasing scan rates, which further indicate the electrochemical process cally display voltage plateaus in their charge-discharge curves [52].
is mainly dominated by diffusion-controlled mechanism [50,51]. Based on the GCD curve at the current density of 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 20, and 25
In Fig. 12a, the GCD curves of the MCS/NF electrode are shown, A g− 1, the specific capacity was calculated as 1091, 1020, 982, 885, 762,
allowing for the evaluation of the specific capacity at various current 692, and 635C g− 1, respectively. The results of the three electrodes are
densities ranging from 1 to 25 A g− 1. The curves exhibit non-linear shown in the graph of Fig. 12b. The specific capacity decreases as the

10
M. Moradi et al. Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177

Fig. 11. (a) CV curves at various scan rates from 1 to 75 mV s− 1, (b) variation in the specific capacity as a function of scan rate, (c) logarithm relationship between
peak current density and scan rate, and (d) the charge storage contribution for CoMn-S at different scan rates.

Fig. 12. (a) GCD profiles at different current densities of CoMn-S electrode, (b) variation of specific capacity with a current density of CoMn-LDH, CoMn-MOF, and
CoMn-S electrodes.

current density increases, which may be related to the corresponding
speed limit of electron transfer and reduced electrolyte ion diffusion
coefficient at high current densities in electrical materials. Indeed, the
CMS/NF electrode has shown excellent behavior and durability even at
high current densities. The capacity of the electrode remains at 58.2 % of
its initial value when subjected to 25 times the current intensity. This
demonstrates the electrode’s ability to maintain its performance and
retain a significant portion of its capacity under demanding operating
conditions. The following are the main reasons behind the proposed
electrode’s advantage in terms of electrochemical properties: Firstly, the
direct synthesis of the CMS active material on current collectors elimi­
nates the need for organic binders and conductive additives. This not

11
M. Moradi et al.
Fig. 13. (a) cycle stability of CoMn-LDH, CoMn-MOF, and CoMn-S electrodes at 25 A g−
only reduces dead volume and improves the utilization of active mate­
rials but also enhances electron transfer from current collectors to active
materials. Secondly, the construction of the MOF-derived CMS results in
a three-dimensional porous network. This network facilitates the pene­
tration of the electrolyte (KOH) and increases the electrode/electrolyte
contact surface area. Consequently, more active sites are available,
leading to an increased capacity for energy storage. One of the unique
characteristics of supercapacitors is that they are expected to endure a
long cycle life. Therefore, the cycling stability of the synthesized CoMn-
LDHs, CoMn-MOF, and CoMn-S nanomaterials was tested for 7000
continuous galvanostatic charge-discharge cycles at 25 A g− 1. As pre­
sented in Fig. 13a, 85 % of the initial capacitance for MnCo-S remained
after 7000 charge-discharge cycles, which was better than that of the
other samples, MnCo-MOF (80 %), and MnCo-LDH (75.0 %). the specific
capacity decrease of the CoMn-LDH electrode in the initial cycles can be
attributed to the instability and destruction of the structure [53,54]. In
CoMn-MOF and CoMn-S electrodes, the initial increase is related to the
exposure of the active sites to the electrolyte ions with increasing cycle
number, and then it becomes stable. SEM images of the MnCo-S after the
cycling measurements show that the morphology and structure of
MnCo-S are mostly preserved, even after 7000 cycles (Fig. 13b). These
performance parameters are better than some of those reported for MOF-
derived electrode materials. Xuemin Yin et al. [55] have used metal-
organic frameworks (MOF) by a multi-step method to prepare hierar­
chical Co3O4@NiCoLDH nanosheets (NSs) on carbon cloth. A specific
capacity of 850C g− 1 was measured at 1 A g− 1. A mesoporous and hollow
Ni-Zn-Co-S nano sword arrays (NSAs) on nickel foam (NF) substrate was
prepared, which involves the hydrothermal growth of bimetallic Zn-Co-
ZIF NSAs on NF and then transforms them into hollow Ni-Zn-Co-S NSAs
through the sulfurization process were demonstrated with a specific
capacity of 1.11 mA h cm− 2 at the current density of 10 mA cm− 2 (358.1
mA h g− 1) by Youzhang Huang et al. [56]. Henan Jia et al. developed
MOFs-derived quadruple-shelled hollow CoS2 dodecahedrons to use a
12
Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177
1
current density; (b) SEM image of CoMn-S electrode after 7000 cycles.
supercapacitor electrode and showed a specific capacity of 375.2C g− 1 at
1 A g− 1 [57].
Furthermore, the unique structure of CMS enables efficient ion and
electrolyte transfer, minimizing concentration polarization and
enhancing the rate capability of the supercapacitor. The incorporation of
manganese, cobalt, and sulfide elements in the active material structure
synergistically improves conductivity, stability, and energy storage ca­
pacity. This synergistic effect enhances the overall efficiency of the
supercapacitor, making it a favorable choice for energy storage
applications.
3.2.2. Two electrode test
In order to evaluate the performance of the introduced electrode in
practical applications, asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) devices were
assembled. The ASC devices consisted of CMS/NF as the positive elec­
trode, AC/NF as the negative electrode, and a filter paper separator
membrane (Fig. 14a). Achieving maximum efficiency in an ASC requires
a balanced charge storage between the positive and negative electrodes
(q+ = q− ). The mass ratio of the active material on the two electrodes
was calculated using the following equations, based on the charge bal­
ance equation:
q = Csp × ΔV × m (16)
m+ C− × ΔV−
= (17)
m− C+ × ΔV+
In Eq. (16), the amount of charge stored in a single electrode is Csp ,
and the operating potential window and the mass of the electrode are Δ
V and m, respectively. By calculating the capacity of each MCS electrode
and AC electrode for charge balancing in two electrodes, a mass ratio of
about 1:5 was achieved, yielding a final mass value of 6 mg for two
electrodes. Fig. 14b represents the CV curves of CMS and AC electrodes
after balancing in different potential windows of − 0.1 to 0.55 and − 1 to
M. Moradi et al. Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177

Fig. 14. (a) Schematic diagram of the assembled CMS//AC ASC device; (b) CV curves of the AC electrode (− 1 to 0 V) and CMS (− 0.1–0.55 V) in three-electrode cell
configuration at a scan rate of 5 mV s− 1, (c) CV curves of the CMS//AC ASC device in different voltage windows at a scan rate of 5 mV s− 1, (d) CV curves of the CMS//
AC ASC device at different scan rates.

Fig. 15. (a) GCD profiles at different current densities, (b) variation of specific capacity with current density.

13
M. Moradi et al.
Fig. 16. (a) Ragone plot of MnCo-S//AC device, (b) the cycling stability and corresponding Coulombic efficiency of the ASC device at 15 A g− 1, (the inset shows the
last 16 cycles of the ACS).
Fig. 17. Images of the green LED lighted by two ASC in series. (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web
version of this article.)
0 V, respectively, at a scanning rate of 5 mV s− 1. Fig. 14c illustrates a
sequence of CV tests in various potential windows ranging from 0–1 to
0–1.6 V at a scanning rate of 5 mV s− 1 to improve and achieve the
optimal operating potential window of the ACS device. The operational
potential window has been extended to (0–1.6 V), and as there are no
visible cut-off voltages for the positive or negative directions of oxygen
or hydrogen evolution, this range of potential is suitable for the built-in
device. Furthermore, the combination of the EDLC mechanism in the AC
electrode and the battery-type mechanism in the CMS electrode con­
tributes to the observed CV curves, which exhibit a pair of broad redox
peaks. This behavior is a result of the unique electrochemical properties
and charge storage mechanisms of each electrode material. The CV tests
for the manufactured device at different scanning rates ranging from 1 to
50 mV s− 1 show that the shape of the CVs remains constant at 50 times
the scanning rate, indicating excellent electrochemical reaction kinetics
and good capacitive behavior, which is an important parameter in en­
ergy storage systems (Fig. 14d). Fig. 15a presents the ASC device’s
14
Journal of Energy Storage 71 (2023) 108177
appropriate GCD curves at various current densities ranging from 1 to 15
A g− 1. The GCD curves are almost symmetric, suggesting that the device
is reversible and has a low equivalent series resistance. Based on Eq. (2),
the specific capacity of the ASC device could be evaluated (m is the sum
of CMS and AC), which are 189.3, 126.3, 94.6, 82, and 75 F g− 1 at 1, 2, 5,
10, and 15 A g− 1, respectively (Fig. 15b). Energy density and power
density are two essential characteristics used to evaluate the practical
use of energy storage devices and compare them to other suggested
systems. Using Eqs. (3) and (4), when the E is changed from 84.14 to
33.3 (W h kg− 1), the P is changed from 1191.4 to 15,000 (W kg− 1).
Ragone’s plot depicts the findings of this investigation and their
comparability with previous studies based on ASC devices based on Mn
and Co chalcogenide (Fig. 16a) [39,58–62]. In addition, the introduced
device has a higher energy density and power density than some similar
devices. Cycling stability and Coulombic efficiency are other factors for
practical applications that were investigated in this study using repeated
GCD at a current density of 15 A g− 1 (Fig. 16b). As can be observed, after
M. Moradi et al.
7000 cycles, the capacity retention and Coulombic efficiency is around
92 % and 99 % respectively. Finally, by connecting two ASC devices in
series, a small green LED was successfully lighted for almost 17 min, as
demonstrated by Fig. 17.
4. Conclusions
In summary, we synthesized a binder-free CMS with an effective
MOF-derived approach in three steps. An electrosynthesis approach was
employed to grow Co-Mn-MOF as a porous metal precursor, then a
controlled electrochemical method for converting MOF into the corre­
sponding 3D hierarchically porous amorphous CMSx. The Co/Mn ratios
and reaction conditions were optimized for the formation of MOF as a
precursor and its conversion to Co-Mn-S (CMS) to achieve a hierarchical
architecture with the largest contact surface of active material and
electrolyte and high electrical conductivity during the synthesis process.
Based on this platform, the CMS was applied and validated as a positive
electrode in SCs, which shows a highly capacitive positive electrode
(1091C g− 1 at 1 A g− 1). Additionally, the assembled ASC device (CMS
and AC as anode and cathode respectively), exhibits remarkable energy
and can exhibit ultrahigh energy density (84 W h kg− 1 at a power
density of 1191.4 W kg− 1), stable electrochemical stabilities (92 %
capacitance retention even after 7000 cycles). This study not only sug­
gests an effective strategy for the rational and controllable design of
porous active materials but also opens a new way to use them for high-
efficiency electrochemical energy storage.
CRediT authorship contribution statement
Mahdi Moradi: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation,
Writing – original draft. Abbas Afkhami: Supervision, Conceptualiza­
tion, Writing – Review & Editing, Critically revised the manuscript.
Tayyebeh Madrakian: Supervision, Writing - review & editing, criti­
cally revised the manuscript. Hamid Reza Moazami: Supervision,
Writing – Review & Editing, critically revised the manuscript.
Declaration of competing interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial
interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence
the work reported in this paper.
Data availability
No data was used for the research described in the article.
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