Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Two-Dimensional RGO/Ti₃C₂T_x Nanocomposites

MXene is a new type of two-dimensional layered material. Herein, a GO/Ti₃C₂T nanocomposite was prepared by a simple liquid phase method, and the obtained GO/Ti₃C₂T was transformed into RGO/Ti₃C₂T under high temperature with Ar/H_2. The prepared samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). As an electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, the RGO/Ti₃C₂T nanocomposite exhibited an excellent electrochemical performance and an excellent rate performance. Compared to pure Ti₃C₂T, the nanocomposite had a better reversible capacity at different current densities and had no attenuation after 200 cycles, which is one time higher than pure Ti₃C₂T. The improvement in the specific capacity was due to the excellent electrical conductivity and the unique structure of RGO, in which a charge transfer bridge was built among the Ti₃C₂T flakes. Such a bridge shortened the transmission distance of the electrons and ions and effectively controlled the restacking of the laminated materials.