ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Advanced ZnMn₃O₄ nanostructures synthesized by solution combustion and electron beam evaporation for supercapacitor electrodes

Dadamiah P M D Shaik, Rosaiah Pitcheri, Fatimah Ali M. Al-Zahrani, Saikh Mohammad Wabaidur, Ayman A. Ghfar, P. Naresh Kumar Reddy, and D. Nagamalleswari

Department of Physics, Vardhaman College of Engineering, Hyderabad, India

E-mail: rahilsp@gmail.com

Received: 14 July 2025  Accepted: 4 September 2025

Abstract:

ZnMn₃O₄ nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using a simple solution combustion method and subsequently employed as target material for the fabrication of ZnMn₃O₄ thin films using the electron beam evaporation technique. Structural characterization through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of characteristic ZnMn₃O₄ peaks, with minor indications of Zn-related phases. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies revealed distinct morphological differences between the samples: flake-like grains for the nanopowder and cylindrical grain structures on the surface of thin film. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the elemental composition, displaying prominent binding energy peaks corresponding to Zn, Mn, and O. Electrochemical evaluations demonstrated that the ZnMn₃O₄ thin film exhibited enhanced performance, achieving a high specific capacitance of 401 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g, along with notable cycling stability, retaining 78% of its initial capacitance after 5000 charge–discharge cycles. These results highlight the potential of ZnMn₃O₄ thin films for high-performance supercapacitor applications.

Keywords: ZnMn₃O₄ nanoparticles; Thin films; Solution combustion method; Electron beam evaporation; Electrodes; Supercapacitors

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04383-z

Chemical Papers 80 (1) 195–203 (2026)