Deciphering the energy storage and electro-catalytic potential of the BaLa2MnS5 ternary metallic sulfide prepared via single source precursor route

The present work elucidates the first report on the synthesis and energy applications of the novel BaLa₂MnS₅ prepared from single source precursor route. This metal chalcogenide expressed a tuned band gap of 3.84 eV and an average crystallite size of 20.52 nm. Functional groups explored for BaLa₂MnS₅ expressed strong signals for presence of the metal sulfide bonds. The thermal decomposition pattern of BaLa₂MnS₅ followed a two-phased mechanism. Synthesized metal sulfide possessed an irregular morphology with particles arranged in random manner. An assessment of the chalcogenide BaLa₂MnS₅ for energy applications has been carried out. When employed as an electrode material in 1 M KOH, which acted as the background electrolyte, BaLa₂MnS₅ chalcogenide showed a specific capacitance of 597 F g⁻¹. Furthermore, this BaLa₂MnS₅ chalcogenide decorated electrode has a low resistance, as shown by the R_s of 1.35 Ω, and a specific power density of 7366 W kg⁻¹, according to the impedance investigations. The electrochemical results for the OER activity are indicative of the OER overpotential and Tafel slope values as 388 mV and 108 mV/dec. This electrode achieved the HER overpotential value of 241 mV while the obtained Tafel slope was 194 mV/dec.