Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of MWCNT-Assisted Molybdenum-Titanium Carbide MXene as a Potential Electrode Material for Energy Storage Application

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) materials such as MXenes have attracted considerable attention owing to their enormous potential for structural flexibility. Here, we prepared a Mo₂TiC₂T_x-layered structure from parent Mo₂TiAlC₂T_x MAX by chemically selective etching of the aluminum layer. The prepared MXene was employed in composite formation with CTAB-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to have a structure with improved electrochemical performance. The samples were characterized to analyze the structure, morphology, elemental detection, vibrational modes, and surface chemistry, followed by an electrochemical performance of the Mo₂TiC₂T_x MXene and MWCNTs@Mo₂TiC₂T_x composite using the GAMRAY Potentiostat under a 1 M KOH electrolyte. The specific capacitance of pristine Mo₂TiC₂T_x was 425 F g^-1, which was enhanced to 1740 F g^-1 (almost 4 times) at 5 mV s^-1 due to the increase in active surface area and conductive paths between the MXene sheets. The charge storage mechanism was studied by further resolving the cyclic voltammograms. MWCNTs@Mo₂TiC₂T_x showed much improved electrochemical performance and reaction kinetics, making it an ideal material candidate for supercapacitor applications.