A comparative study on conventionally prepared MnFe₂O₄ nanospheres and template-synthesized novel MnFe₂O₄ nano-agglomerates as the electrodes for biosensing of mercury contaminations and supercapacitor applications

For the first time, Manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) with two different catalytic and morphological properties were synthesized through the conventional and template-synthetic approaches. The typical conventionally prepared MnFe₂O₄ particles attained nanoscaled spherical structure, and the unique structured novel MnFe₂O₄ nano-agglomerates were conquered by the template synthesis. The templates of MnCO₃ made MnFe₂O₄ to attain the nano-agglomeric structure with the abundant electroactive surface area and copious catalytic sites, which were confirmed through the structural, morphological, elemental, and electrochemical investigations. By the recent reports, the supercapacitor and heavy metal detection properties of MnFe₂O₄ were recognized. Therefore, both the MnFe₂O₄ nanospheres (NSs), and MnFe₂O₄ nano-agglomerates (NAs) were applied for the detection of Hg(II) ions in real samples, and also for the supercapacitor applications. Both the materials exhibited moral parameters in electrochemical sensing and supercapacitor applications, but the results obtained for the MnFe₂O₄ NAs is quite high (LOD: 0.14 nM and Specific capacitance: 1283 F/g at 5 mV/s) when compared to the NSs. Finally, the MnFe₂O₄ NAs was employed to be an active participant in supercapacitor and also to detect Hg(II) ions in seafood and industrial wastewater samples.