Abstract

High-capacity, stable-performance batteries are needed to meet current energy storage demand. However, high-capacity batteries require optimization of the anode, cathode, and electrolyte. Herein, we synthesized novel MXene (Ti3C2Tx) sheets with redistribution of “Al” nanoparticles formed by Ostwald ripening during Hydrofluoric (HF) acid etching of MAX (Ti3AlC2) for the anode performance evaluation in a Lithium-ion Battery (LIB). The image microscopy and spectroscopy studies clearly evidenced the “Al” nanoparticle modification on MXene sheets and an increment of inter-layer distance from 0.8 nm to more than 1 nm through HF treatment of MAX to MXene. The electrochemical performance of optimized Al@Ti3C2Tx shows a superior LIB anode performance with a specific capacity of 546 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 current density with a charge transfer resistance of 110 Ohm, whereas the MAX sample shows 56 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 with 190 Ohms. Characterization and electrochemical results indicate that the redistributed “Al” nanoparticles on the Ti3C2Tx surface act as an “inter-metallic interface” which affects local charge density and results in the superior anode performance of Al@Ti3C2Tx in the LIB coin cell. This work demonstrates that the “Al” nanoparticles redistributed multilayer Ti3C2Tx sheets with superior LIB anode performance, making it a promising candidate for high-energy density LIB energy storage devices.