Synthesis and Characterization of a Nanocomposite Consisting of Ti3c2tx (Mxene) and Ws2 Nanosheets for Potential Use in Supercapacitors

Abstract

With the growing demand for high-performance supercapacitor materials, this study explores the synthesis and electrochemical evaluation of Ti3C2Tx (MXene), WS2 nanosheets, and MXene/WS2 nanocomposites. The aim is to develop materials with enhanced energy storage capabilities. To this end, the performance of MXene/WS2 nanocomposites was compared to that of the individual materials. MXene, WS2 nanosheets, and MXene/WS2 nanocomposites were synthesized through chemical and hydrothermal methods, and their morphology was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of functional groups. Electrochemical analysis of WS2, MXene, and MXene/WS2 was conducted in a 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The specific capacitance (Cs) values for WS2 were 58 F/g (at 5 mV/s) and 47 F/g (at 0.4 A/g); for MXene, the Cs values were 98 F/g (at 5 mV/s) and 71 F/g (at 0.4 A/g), while MXene/WS2 exhibited much higher Cs values of 322 F/g (at 5 mV/s) and 373 F/g (at 0.4 A/g). EIS results indicated a lower charge transfer resistance (Rct) for MXene/WS2 (2.29 Omega) compared to WS2 (5.25 Omega) and MXene (3.41 Omega). These findings demonstrate that MXene/WS2 nanocomposites have superior electrochemical properties, making them promising candidates for high-energy supercapacitor applications.