Ti3C2Tx MXene reinforcement: a nickel–vanadium selenide/MXene based multi-component composite as a battery-type electrode for supercapacitor applications

Abstract

Designing innovative microstructures and implementing efficient multicomponent strategies are still challenging to achieve high-performance and chemo-mechanically stable electrode materials. Herein, a hierarchical three-dimensional (3D) graphene oxide (GO) assisted Ti₃C₂T_x MXene aerogel foam (MXene-GAF) impregnated with battery-type bimetallic nickel vanadium selenide (NiVSe) has been prepared through a hydrothermal method followed by freeze-drying (denoted as NiVSe–MXene-GAF). 3D-oriented cellular pore networks benefit the energy storage process through the effective lodging of NiVSe particles, improving the access of the electrolyte to the active sites, and alleviating volume changes during redox reactions. The 3D MXene-GAF conductive matrix and heterostructured interface of MXene–rGO and NiVSe facilitated the rapid transport of electrical charges and ions during the charge–discharge process. As a result of the synergism of these effects, NiVSe–MXene-GAF exhibited remarkable electrochemical performance with a specific capacity of 305.8 mA h g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ and 99.2% initial coulombic efficiency. The NiVSe–MXene-GAF electrode delivered a specific capacity of 235.1 mA h g⁻¹ even at a high current density of 12 A g⁻¹ with a 76.8% rate performance. The impedance measurements indicated a low bulk solution resistance (R_s = 0.71 Ω) for NiVSe–MXene-GAF. Furthermore, the structural robustness of NiVSe–MXene-GAF guaranteed long-term stability with a 91.7% capacity retention for successive 7000 cycles. Thus, developing NiVSe–MXene-GAF provides a progressive strategy for fabricating high-performance 3D heterostructured electrode materials for energy storage applications.