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1. A Review of the Effects of Electrode Fabrication and Assembly Processes on the Structure and Electrochemical Performance of 2D MXenes

   https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202005305  

   Orangi, Jafar; Beidaghi, Majid (August 2020, Advanced Functional Materials)

   Abstract MXenes are 2D materials with relatively high surface areas, high electrical conductivities, functional transition metal surfaces, tunable surface chemistries, and solution processability. Due to these properties, 2D MXenes have attracted widespread attention as electrode materials for energy storage devices, including electrochemical capacitors, with high power and energy densities. However, many studies have shown that the electrochemical performance of MXene electrodes is considerably affected by their structure and morphology. These properties are, for the most part, controlled by the method used for the assembly of 2D MXene flakes and the electrode fabrication methods. A successful electrode assembly and fabrication method should address several challenges, such as the restacking of 2D flakes, to achieve electrode structures and morphologies that deliver high ionic transport properties, electrical conductivity, and mechanical stability. This review aims to provide insight into the current state‐of‐the‐art assembly and fabrication methods used to design and fabricate high performance electrodes based on MXenes. The major challenges to be addressed and possible future directions in the fabrication of MXene electrodes for practical energy storage applications are highlighted. 

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2. Vanadium MXenes materials for next-generation energy storage devices

   https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/acc539  

   Sijuade, Ayomide Adeola; Eze, Vincent Obiozo; Arnett, Natalie Y; Okoli, Okenwa I (April 2023, Nanotechnology)

   Abstract Batteries and supercapacitors have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage technologies. The rapid development of new two-dimensional (2D) electrode materials indicates a new era in energy storage devices. MXenes are a new type of layered 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides that have drawn much attention because of their excellent electrical conductivity, electrochemical and hydrophilic properties, large surface area, and attractive topological structure. This review focuses on various synthesis methods to prepare vanadium carbide MXenes with and without etchants like hydrofluoric acid, lithium fluoride, and hydrochloric acid to remove the ‘A’ layers of the MAX phase. The goal is to demonstrate the utilization of a less toxic etching method to achieve MXenes of comparable properties to those prepared by traditional methods. The influence of intercalation on the effect of high interlayer spacing between the MXene layers and the performance of MXenes as supercapacitor and battery electrodes is also addressed in this review. Lastly, the gaps in the current knowledge for vanadium carbide MXenes in synthesis, scalability, and utilization in more energy storage devices were discussed. 

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3. Germanium‐Functionalized 3D Microporous, Nanostructured Nickel–Nickel Oxides for Application in Asymmetric Supercapacitors

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.202300360  

   Kr_Singh, Balwant; Das, Debabrata; Gonzalez, Cristina; Ramana, C V (October 2023, Energy Technology)

   Supercapacitors and batteries are essential for sustainable energy development. However, the bottleneck is the associated high cost, which limits bulk use of batteries and supercapacitors. In this context, realizing that the cost of energy‐storage device mainly depends on materials, synthesis processes/procedures, and device fabrication, an effort is made to rationally design and develop novel low‐cost electrode materials with enhanced electrochemical performance in asymmetric supercapacitors. Herein, surface functionalization approach is adopted to design low‐cost 3D mesoporous and nanostructured nickel–nickel oxide electrode materials using facile synthesis for application in supercapacitors. It is demonstrated that the 3D mesoporous Ni provides the high surface area and enhanced ionic conductivity, while germanium functionalization improves the electrical conductivity and reduces the charge‐transfer resistance of NiO. Surface functionalization with Ge demonstrates the significant improvement in specific capacitance of NiO. The asymmetric supercapacitor using these Ge‐functionalized NiO–Ni electrodes provides a specific capacitance of 304 Fg⁻¹(94 mF cm⁻²), energy density of 23.8 Wh kg⁻¹(7.35 μWh cm⁻²), and power density of 6.8 kW kg⁻¹(2.1 mW cm⁻²) with excellent cyclic stability of 92% after 10 000 cycles. To validate their practical applications, powering the digital watch using the asymmetric supercapacitors in laboratory conditions is demonstrated. 

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4. Variation in the interface strength of silicon with surface engineered Ti ₃ C ₂ MXenes

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d0cp06190e  

   Sharma, Vidushi; Datta, Dibakar (March 2021, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics)

   null (Ed.)

   Current advancements in battery technologies require electrodes to combine high-performance active materials such as Silicon (Si) with two-dimensional materials such as transition metal carbides (MXenes) for prolonged cycle stability and enhanced electrochemical performance. More so, it is the interface between these materials, which is the nexus for their applicatory success. Herein, the interface strength variations between amorphous Si and Ti 3 C 2 T x MXenes are determined as the MXene surface functional groups ( T x ) are changed using first principles calculations. Si is interfaced with three Ti 3 C 2 MXene substrates having surface −OH, −OH and −O mixed, and −F functional groups. Density functional theory (DFT) results reveal that completely hydroxylated Ti 3 C 2 has the highest interface strength of 0.6 J m −2 with amorphous Si. This interface strength value drops as the proportion of surface −O and −F groups increases. Additional analysis of electron redistribution and charge separation across the interface is provided for a complete understanding of underlying physico-chemical factors affecting the surface chemistry and resultant interface strength values. The presented comprehensive analysis of the interface aims to develop sophisticated MXene based electrodes by their targeted surface engineering. 

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5. Electrochemically Stable Carbazole-Derived Polyaniline for Pseudocapacitors

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.1c01616  

   Almtiri, Mohammed; Dowell, Timothy J.; Giri, Hari; Wipf, David O.; Scott, Colleen N. (March 2022, ACS Applied Polymer Materials)

   Supercapacitor energy storage devices are well suited to meet the rigorous demands of future portable consumer electronics (PCEs) due to their high energy and power densities (i.e., longer battery-life and rapid charging, respectively) and superior operational lifetimes (10 times greater than lithium-ion batteries). To date, research efforts have been narrowly focused on improving the specific capacitance of these materials; however, emerging technologies are increasingly demanding competitive performance with regards to other criteria, including scalability of fabrication and electrochemical stability. In this regard, we developed a polyaniline (PANI) derivative that contains a carbazole unit copolymerized with 2,5-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (Cbz-PANI-1) and determined its optoelectronic properties, electrical conductivity, processability, and electrochemical stability. Importantly, the polymer exhibits good solubility in various solvents, which enables the use of scalable spray-coating and drop-casting methods to fabricate electrodes. Cbz-PANI-1 was used to fabricate electrodes for supercapacitor devices that exhibits a maximum areal capacitance of 64.8 mF cm–2 and specific capacitance of 319 F g–1 at a current density of 0.2 mA cm–2. Moreover, the electrode demonstrates excellent cyclic stability (≈ 83% of capacitance retention) over 1000 CV cycles. Additionally, we demonstrate the charge storage performance of Cbz-PANI-1 in a symmetrical supercapacitor device, which also exhibits excellent cyclic stability (≈ 91% of capacitance retention) over 1000 charge–discharge cycles. 

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