In this study, carbon-supported MnO₂ nanocomposites have been prepared using the microwave-assisted heating method followed by two different approaches. The MnO₂/C nanocomposite, labeled as sample S1, was prepared directly by the microwave-assisted synthesis of mixed KMnO₄ and carbon powder components. Meanwhile, the other MnO₂/C nanocomposite sample labeled as S2 was prepared indirectly via a two-step procedure that involves the microwave-assisted synthesis of mixed KMnO₄ and MnSO₄ components to generate MnO₂ and subsequent secondary microwave heating of synthesized MnO₂ species coupled with graphite powder. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy have been used for characterization of MnO₂/C nanocomposites morphology, structure, and composition. The electrochemical performance of nanocomposites has been investigated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements in a 1 M Na₂SO₄ solution. The MnO₂/C nanocomposite, prepared indirectly via a two-step procedure, displays substantially enhanced electrochemical characteristics. The high specific capacitance of 980.7 F g⁻¹ has been achieved from cyclic voltammetry measurements, whereas specific capacitance of 949.3 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ has been obtained from galvanostatic charge/discharge test for sample S2. In addition, the specific capacitance retention was 93% after 100 cycles at 20 A g⁻¹, indicating good electrochemical stability.

Herein, we present a synthesis route for high-efficiency nitrogen-doped carbon materials using kraft pulping residue, black liquor, and wood charcoal as carbon sources. The synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon materials, based on black liquor and its mixture with wood charcoal, exhibited high specific surface areas (SSAs) of 2481 and 2690 m² g⁻¹, respectively, as well as a high volume of mesopores with an average size of 2.9–4.6 nm. The nitrogen content was approximately 3–4 at% in the synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon materials. A specific capacitance of approximately 81–142 F g⁻¹ was achieved in a 1 M Na₂SO₄ aqueous solution at a current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹. In addition, the specific capacitance retention was 99% after 1000 cycles, indicating good electrochemical stability.

The graphene (GR) supported PtCo catalysts with different Pt:Co molar ratios were fabricated by means of the rapid microwave heating method. The size and shape of catalyst nanoparticles were determined by means of Transmission Electron Microscopy. Electrochemical properties of the PtCo/GR catalysts were investigated towards the electro-oxidation of methanol in an acidic medium by means of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry.The PtCo/GR catalysts with an average Pt particle size of ca. 1–3 nm were synthesized from the reaction mixture containing H2PtCl6, CoCl2 and ethylene glycol. It should be noted that the electrocatalytic activity of PtCo/GR catalysts depends on the molar ratio of Pt:Co in the catalysts. It was found that the synthesized PtCo/GR catalysts with the Pt:Co molar ratios equal to 1:3 and 1:6 exhibited an enhanced electrocatalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation as compared with that of catalysts with the Pt:Co molar ratios equal to 1:20, 1:50 and 1:60 and 1:0.

MnO2/C nanocomposites have been prepared using a simple onestep microwave heating method by applying different concentrations of cationic surfactant – cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The morphology and composition of the prepared MnO2/C nanocomposites have been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The electrochemical performance of the prepared nanocomposites has been analysed using cyclic voltammetry. It was found that a high specific capacitance (Cs) of 742 F g−1 at a scan rate of 10 mV s−1 in a 1 M Na2SO4 solution has been obtained for the MnO2/C nanocomposite that has the mass loading of 0.140 mg cm−2 and has been synthesized in the absence of CTAB. Meanwhile, the application of CTAB allowed the increase in the mass loading of MnO2 in the nanocomposites. In the presence of CTAB, the highest value of 654 F g−1 at a scan rate of 10 mV s−1 has been obtained for MnO2/C that has the mass loading of 0.570 mg cm−2. This result confirmed a good performance of the prepared MnO2/C nanocomposites as the electrode material for supercapacitors.

In this study, one-pot microwave-assisted synthesis was used to fabricate the graphene (GR)-supported PtCoM catalysts where M = Mn, Ru, and Mo. The catalysts with the molar ratios of metals Pt:Co:Mn, Pt:Co:Ru, and Pt:Co:Mo equal to 1:3:1, 1:2:2, and 7:2:1, respectively, were prepared. Catalysts were characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The electrocatalytic activity of the GR-supported PtCoMn, PtCoRu, and PtCoMo catalysts was evaluated toward methanol oxidation in an alkaline medium employing cyclic voltammetry and chrono-techniques. The most efficient electrochemical characteristics demonstrated the PtCoMn/GR catalyst with a current density value of 144.5 mA cm⁻², which was up to 4.8 times higher than that at the PtCoRu(1:2:2)/GR, PtCoMo(7:2:1)/GR, and bare Pt/GR catalysts.

The carbon supported manganese(IV)–cobalt (II/III) oxides nanoparticles labelled as MnO2–Co3O4/C nanocomposites have been prepared by a simple one-step microwave-assisted heating method using different precursor materials. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) have been used for the characterization of morphology, structure and composition of the synthesized nanocomposites, whereas the electrochemical performance of the prepared nanocomposites has been evaluated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV). It was determined that the use of different precursor materials for the synthesis of the carbon supported MnO2 and Co3O4 nanocomposites results in a different morphology of the prepared substances. A high specific capacitance (Cs) of 658.8 F g−1 at a scan rate of 10 mV s−1 in a 1 M Na2SO4 solution has been obtained for the MnO2–Co3O4/C-2 nanocomposite that has a spherical shape of nanoparticles. Moreover, it significantly outperforms the MnO2–Co3O4/C-1 nanocomposite that has a lamellar shape of nanoparticles.