High-performance electrocatalyst made from lignosulfonate nanofiber composited with manganese dioxide without carbonation process

[Display omitted] •Composite of Lignin electrospun nanofiber/MnO2 for support electrocatalyst without carbonation.•α-MnO2 obtained from reduction reaction of KMnO4 by Sodium Lignosulfonate.•Comparison of lignin nanofiber/MnO2: pre- and post-electrospinning process on the electrocatalytic through ORR and LSV. Lignin-based electrospun nanofiber composited with MnO2 mats is synthesized for electrocatalyst applications. Lignin-based nanofiber is produced from Sodium lignosulfonate (SLS) through electrospinning, using Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) as polymer followed by stabilization using iodine treatment. The composited process is observed by introducing KMnO4 following with hydrothermal process, and it is compared between before and after the electrospinning process. A conductivity, specific surface area, and morphology analysis confirm that the PVA:SLS mass ratio of 15:4.5 and 15:6 showed the best choice. In addition, x-ray diffraction exhibit that the sample composited with MnO2 either before or after electrospinning (pre- and post-electrospinning composite) has the same amorphous phase of α-MnO2. Consequently, lignin nanofiber with PVA:SLS mass ratio of 15:4.5 composited with MnO2 before the electrospinning process possesses has the best electrochemical properties with a current density of 1.5 mA/cm2 and at potential applied of 0.4 V versus Ag/AgCl. Furthermore, the electron transferred, n occurred is 3.01, indicating the sample shows high potential to be used as an electrocatalyst following the two-electron pathway oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) mechanism.