The S-functionalized Ti₃C₂ Mxene as a high capacity electrode material for Na-ion batteries: a DFT study

MXenes are attracting much attention as electrode materials due to their excellent energy storage properties and electrical conductivity, and the energy storage capacities were found to strongly depend on the surface terminal groups. Here S-functionalized Ti₃C₂ as a representative MXene material is designed. Our density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to investigate the geometric and electronic properties, dynamic stability, and Na storage capability of Ti₃C₂, Ti₃C₂O₂ and Ti₃C₂S₂ systems. The Ti₃C₂S₂ monolayer is proved to show metallic behavior and has a stable structure, and meanwhile it also exhibits a low diffusion barrier and high storage capacity (up to Ti₃C₂S₂Na₄ stoichiometry) for Na ion batteries (NIBs). The superior properties such as good electrical conductivity, fast charge-discharge rates, low open circuit voltage (OCV), and high theoretical Na storage capacity, make the Ti₃C₂S₂ monolayer a promising anode material for NIBs compared to the Ti₃C₂O₂ monolayer. More importantly, similar to the Ti₃C₂S₂ monolayer, other MXenes with a high charge density difference and suitable lattice constant can be formed, and thus the energy storage properties are worth further study. This finding will be useful to the design of anode materials for NIBs.