In-situ investigation of the electrodeposition of manganese dioxide using small angle X-ray scattering

The electrodeposition mechanism of manganese dioxide has been investigated in-situ using transmission mode small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Manganese dioxide was deposited anodically from an acidic MnSO4 solution onto a platinum substrate using an electrochemical cell assembled with a short X-ray beam path length over the substrate. The evolving morphology of the film was characterized by taking short time base SAXS measurements over the duration of the electrodeposition process. Modelling of the SAXS data was discussed, with results indicating that the film morphology was found to change during the electrodeposition, with the average smallest pore size increasing from 4.3 to 5.3 Å, a size range that is consistent with previous literature. This suggests that with ongoing electrodeposition the material becomes less porous, has a lower surface area, and more crystalline.