Manganese oxides are one of the most important materials in used energy storage and conversion applications, in particular as electrode materials for batteries and supercapacitors, and also as electrocatalysts in fuel cells. Given the wide variety of structures and physico-chemical properties manganese oxides can possess, combined with excellent performance and typically low cost processing, this category of materials is likely to play an even greater role in the future of energy supply.
This book concentrates on the various roles that manganese oxides have played in energy storage and conversion applications. Initially a review of structures and synthesis methods is presented, setting the scene essentially to begin discussing the cathode active behaviour of manganese oxides in both aqueous and non-aqueous and primary and rechargeable battery systems. The use of manganese oxides in supercapacitors is a relatively new field, and so the current technology here is discussed. Finally, the range of manganese oxide-based materials that have been used as catalysts in fuel cells are described and analysed.
