Trace amounts of silica and epoxy resin driven MXene-based flexible electrode coupled with good cycle stability

Abstract

MXene-based flexible electrodes possess advantageous properties, including good electrical conductivity and high specific capacitance. Nevertheless, the lack of cycling stability of these flexible electrodes represents a significant limitation for their further application in wearable technology. In response to this challenge, this study innovatively composites SiO2 nanoparticles with Ti3C2Tx nanosheets and introduces a trace amount of epoxy resin to prepare CC/MXene@SiO2-EP nanostructures, which form a unique three-dimensional structural composite. This method significantly enhanced the interfacial properties, electrochemical performance, and cycling stability of MXene-based flexible electrodes in a straightforward and environmentally benign manner. The introduced epoxy resin acts as an efficient binder to firmly anchor the MXene@SiO2 nanostructures to the carbon cloth surface, which greatly improves the mechanical properties of the flexible devices. The specific capacitance of the CC/MXene@SiO2-EP composite in the three-electrode system was approximately 481.4 F g−1, with a capacity retention of 94.07 % after 8000 cycles. Furthermore, the AC//CC/MXene@SiO2-EP ASC device assembled with activated carbon exhibits an ultra-high energy density of 39.74 W h kg−1 at a power density of 400 W kg−1 and a capacitance retention of up to 96.7 % after 5000 cycles at maximum 90° reciprocal bending. It can be observed that CC/MXene@SiO2-EP composites represent a novel class of flexible electrodes, offering a promising avenue for the advancement of the energy storage field.