Thermally Reduced Graphene/MXene Film for Enhanced Li-ion Storage

Graphical Flexible freestanding hybrid rGO/MXene films with enhanced Li-ion storage capacity are fabricated by vacuum-assisted filtration method followed by a simple thermal treatment. In the hybrid films, reduced graphene oxide nanosheets act as a binder, which bridges electrochemically active conducting MXene particles. The effect of the surface functional group (-OH) on Li-storage performance of MXenes is evaluated. Two-dimensional transition-metal carbides called MXenes are emerging electrode materials for energy storage due to their metallic electrical conductivity and low ion diffusion barrier. In this work, we combined Ti 2 CT x MXene with graphene oxide (GO) followed by a thermal treatment to fabricate flexible rGO/Ti 2 CT r film, in which electrochemically active rGO and Ti 2 CT r nanosheets impede the stacking of layers and synergistically interact producing ionically and electronically conducting electrodes. The effect of the thermal treatment on the electrochemical performance of Ti 2 CT x is evaluated. As anode for Li-ion storage, the thermally treated Ti 2 CT r possesses a higher capacity in comparison to as-prepared Ti 2 CT x . The freestanding hybrid rGO/Ti 2 CT r films exhibit excellent reversible capacity (700 mAh g −1 at 0.1 Ag −1 ), cycling stability and rate performance. Additionally, flexible rGO/Ti 3 C 2 T r films are made using the same method and also present improved capacity. Therefore, this study provides a simple, yet effective, approach to combine rGO with different MXenes, which can enhance their electrochemical properties for Li-ion batteries.