Ultrafine nanoparticles of tin-cobalt-sulfide decorated over 2D MXene sheets as a cathode material for high-performance asymmetric supercapacitor

Abstract

The design of electrode materials for improved electrochemical properties and stable geometric configuration is known as effective research in developing the electrochemical capability of supercapacitors (SCs). However, there is a difficulty in designing innovative composite material with excellent electrical conductivity and superior specific capacity by way of low cost and easy synthesis process. Herein, for the first time, a stable Sn-Co-S/MXene hybrid material is fabricated through the electrochemical assembly by combining positively charged ultrafine Sn-Co-S nanoparticles (NPs) and negatively charged 2D Ti3C2Tx (MXene) sheets due to electrostatic interaction. The Sn-Co-S/MXene hybrid material has displayed excellent electrochemical performance with an ultrahigh specific capacity of 305.71 mA h gm−1 at 1 A g−1 and capacity retention of 94.8% after 10, 000 charge–discharge cycles. The Sn-Co-S/MXene hybrid material of high electrochemical performance has improved charge transfer kinetics during the charge–discharge process, due to the synergistic coupling effect between ultrafine Sn-Co-S nanoparticles and MXene sheets. Furthermore, the Sn-Co-S/MXene//activated carbon (AC) asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device has been configured with the assistance of Sn-Co-S/MXene as cathode and AC as anode materials. The Sn-Co-S/MXene//AC ASC device exhibits a stable potential window of 1.7 V, a high specific capacitance of 108.50F g−1 at 1 A g−1, and an energy density of 43.55Wh kg−1 at a power density of 0.83 kW kg−1. This study validates the design and application of highly electroactive Sn-Co-S/MXene hybrid electrode material for ultrastable asymmetric supercapacitors.