2D Porous Ti₃C₂ MXene as Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries with Excellent Reaction Kinetics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are a promising energy storage technology.
• Developing fast-charging anodes for SIBs remains a significant challenge.
• MXene-based composites offer excellent conductivity and stability but suffer from interlayer stacking, hindering performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the interlayer stacking issue in MXenes for SIB anodes.
• To enhance sodium-ion transport and electrochemical performance.
• To create a porous MXene structure for improved energy storage.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of porous MXene (PM) using a chemical oxidation method.
• Utilized a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide as a pore-forming agent.
• Investigated the effect of enlarged interlayer spacing on ion transport.

Main Results:

• Achieved a capacity of 247 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹ and 114 mAh g⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹.
• Demonstrated excellent long-cycle stability, retaining 117 mAh g⁻¹ over 1000 cycles at 5 A g⁻¹.
• The porous structure effectively facilitated sodium-ion transport.

Conclusions:

• Porous MXene (PM) is a viable anode material for fast-charging SIBs.
• Chemical oxidation with hydrogen peroxide successfully mitigates MXene stacking.
• The developed PM material shows significant potential for next-generation energy storage devices.