Electrodeposited Ni Co layered double hydroxides on titanium carbide as a binder-free electrode for supercapacitors

MXene-Based Nanocomposites for Supercapacitors: Fundamentals and Applications

MXene-based nanocomposite materials with other 2D materials have made a large impact in the field of energy storage, particularly in the area of supercapacitors. Combining conductive 2D MXene with other 2D materials, such as transition metal oxide, transition metal dichalcogenides, and layered double hydroxide, improves the electrochemical energy storage properties of resulting MXene-based nanocomposites. The interface of MXene and 2D nanocomposite materials allows an improved electrochemical performance for energy storage applications. In this review, state-of-the-art research progress in 2D/2D MXene-based nanocomposite synthesis, structural and morphological properties, and electrochemical performance for supercapacitors is explored. 2D MXene nanocomposites electrochemical properties in terms of specific capacitance, energy, power densities, and stability are discussed. This study shows that this rapidly developing field has an important impact on the next-generation supercapacitor.

Electro-assisted solid-phase microextraction of Hg(II) in rice and water samples using NiCo-LDH-MXene fiber

Food and water contamination with heavy metals is still a significant public health issue, necessitating development of simple and rapid analytical methods. Herein, a novel electro-assisted solid-phase microextraction (EA-SPME) method was developed to determine mercury (Hg(II)) in rice and water samples. A novel SPME-fiber coating was prepared through electrosynthesis of NiCo-layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) onto MXene deposited onto the graphenized pencil fiber. This EA-SPME-DPV method demonstrated good linearity (0.01 to 1.5 ng mL-1) and limits of detection and quantification (0.003 and 0.01 ng mL-1, respectively). Analytical performance of the EA-SPME-DPV method indicated that this method is cost-effective, rapid, and green, but also sensitive, selective, accurate, and repeatable, without significant matrix effects, making it suitable to determine Hg(II) in water and rice samples.

Facile Growing of Ni-MOFs on Ni Foam by Self-Dissociation Strategy for Electrochemical Energy Storage

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with redox metal centers have come into view as potential materials for electrochemical energy storage. However, the poor electrical conductivity largely impedes the potentiality of MOFs to construct high-performance electrodes in supercapacitors. In this work, a self-dissociation strategy has been applied to construct Ni-MOF microbelts on Ni foam (NF), where the NF is used as both a support and a Ni source. The transmission channels between the Ni-MOF and NF are favorable for the charge transport due to the in situ self-assembly of the TPA linkers with the dissociated Ni ions from the Ni foam. The grown Ni-MOF microbelt arrays can offer abundant active sites for redox reactions. The prepared Ni-MOF/NF-s electrode can yield a high capacitance of 1124 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 and retains 590 F g-1 at 10 A g-1. This design may offer a controllable protocol for the construction of MOF microbelt arrays on various metal substrates.

Cobalt phosphide/nickel-cobalt phosphide heterostructured hollow nanoflowers for high-performance supercapacitor and overall water splitting

In this work, a novel CoP/NiCoP heterostructure with hollow nanoflower morphology is designed and constructed. Benefiting from the hollow nanoflower morphology and tuned electronic structure, the heterostructured CoP/NiCoP hollow nanoflowers are demonstrated as both high-performance supercapacitor electrode materials and superior bifunctional electrocatalysts in overall water splitting. The CoP/NiCoP delivers a high capacitance of 1476.6 F g-1 at 1.0 A g-1 and shows enhanced rate capability. The constructed asymmetric supercapacitor achieves a high energy density of 32.4 Wh kg-1 at 800.5 W kg-1 and high power density of 16.5 kW kg-1 at 20.0 Wh kg-1. The CoP/NiCoP hollow nanoflowers are also proven to be remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst which achieves the current density of 10.0 mA cm-2 under an overpotential of 110.4 mV for HER and 310.7 mV for OER with superior stability in alkaline solution. In addition, the constructed CoP/NiCoP||CoP/NiCoP cell with CoP/NiCoP as both cathode material and anode material only requires 1.63 V @ 10.0 mA cm-2 for overall water splitting. This study sheds lights on the rational design and construction of bimetallic phosphides for both supercapacitor and overall water splitting.

Recent Advances and Strategies in MXene-Based Electrodes for Supercapacitors: Applications, Challenges and Future Prospects

With the growing demand for technologies to sustain high energy consumption, supercapacitors are gaining prominence as efficient energy storage solutions beyond conventional batteries. MXene-based electrodes have gained recognition as a promising material for supercapacitor applications because of their superior electrical conductivity, extensive surface area, and chemical stability. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recent progress and strategies in the development of MXene-based electrodes for supercapacitors. It covers various synthesis methods, characterization techniques, and performance parameters of these electrodes. The review also highlights the current challenges and limitations, including scalability and stability issues, and suggests potential solutions. The future outlooks and directions for further research in this field are also discussed, including the creation of new synthesis methods and the exploration of novel applications. The aim of the review is to offer a current and up-to-date understanding of the state-of-the-art in MXene-based electrodes for supercapacitors and to stimulate further research in the field.

A flexible wearable self-supporting hybrid supercapacitor device based on hierarchical nickel cobalt sulfide@C electrode

A flexible wearable electrode consisting of nickel-cobalt sulfide (NCS) nanowires was fabricated in this study. Self-supporting NCS was grown in situ on porous carbon nanofibers without a binder as a novel material for supercapacitor electrodes. The NCS nanowires were grown using cyclic voltammetry electrodeposition, which proved to be a fast and environmentally friendly method with good controllability of the material structure. One-dimensional carbon nanofibers (C) have high surface-area-to-volume ratios, short ion transmission distances, excellent mechanical strengths, and remarkable flexibilities. Moreover, the NCS@C flexible electrode exhibited a synergetic effect with the active compounds, and the dense active sites were uniformly distributed across the entire surface of the carbon fibers, enabling rapid electron transport and enhancing the electrochemical properties of the NCS@C nanowires. The NCS@C achieved specific capacitances of 334.7 and 242.0 mAh g-1 at a current density of 2 A g-1 and high current densities (up to 40 A g-1), respectively, corresponding to a 72.3% retention rate. An NCS@C-nanofilm-based cathode and an activated-carbon-based anode were used to fabricate a flexible asymmetric supercapacitor. The device exhibited high energy and power densities of 12.91 Wh kg-1 and 358 W kg-1, respectively.

Nickel -supported PdM (M = Au and Ag) nanodendrites as formate oxidation (electro)catalytic anodes for direct fuel cells and hydrogen generation at room temperature

The study provides a proof of concept for the first time that unique palladium-gold (PdAu) and palladium-silver (PdAg) nanodendrites are bifunctional catalytic active sites for formate oxidation reactions (FORs) and formate dehydrogenation reactions (FDRs). The unique nanodendritic structure was developed via a simple galvanic displacement reaction for the direct growth of PdAu and PdAg nanodendrites on a nickel foam (PdAu/NiNF and PdAg/NiNF). These PdAu/NiNF and PdAg/NiNF electrodes exhibited 2.32 and 1.59 times higher specific activity than that of the commercial Pd/C electrode and promising stability toward FORs. Moreover, the PdAu/NiNF and PdAg/NiNF nanodendrites were also highly active and selective catalysts for hydrogen generation from a formate solution with turnover frequency (TOF) values of 311 h^-1 and 287 h^-1 respectively. Impressively, a passive air-breathing formate fuel cell with PdAu/NiNF used as an anode can yield an open-circuit voltage of 1.12 V and a peak power density of 21.7 mW cm^-2, which outperforms most others reported in the literature. PdAu and PdAg nanodendritic catalysts supported on a nickel foam demonstrate an open structure and uniform catalyst distribution and offer a promising nanoalloy for air-breathing formate fuel cells and on-site chemical hydrogen production systems.

Formation of MXene-Derived/NiCoFe-LDH Heterostructures for Supercapacitor Applications

In this study, MXene-derived/NiCoFe-LDH heterostructures with three-dimensional interconnected porous network microstructures were prepared, leveraging the excellent electrical conductivity and growth platform provided by the MXene material. The remarkable specific capacitance of metal oxides was fully exploited. The composite exhibited high specific capacitance and excellent stability, with a specific capacitance of 1305 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 and a capacitance of 85.7% of the initial performance after 6000 charge/discharge tests at 10 A g^-1. A two-electrode assembly was constructed using activated carbon as the negative electrode material corresponding to 49.5 Wh kg^-1 at 800 W kg^-1, indicating that the electrodes could achieve rapid charge/discharge. The findings of this study indicate that the composite material comprising LDH/MXene has significant potential for supercapacitor applications.

Corrosion-controlled surface engineering improves the adhesion of materials for stable free-standing electrodes

Directly anchoring active materials on porous conductive substrates is considered an effective strategy to obtain a high-activity electrode since the direct contact between active materials and substrates benefits charge transfer, and the presence of porous structures provides more active sites. However, due to the presence of strong stress and weak adhesion, active materials loaded on the substrate are very easy to peel off during assembly and use, which can greatly shorten the lifetime of use. Herein, an ultrasonic corrosion strategy is proposed to regulate the surface of a metal substrate. We find that ultrasonic oxygen corrosion and interfacial water control play key roles in fabricating the complex electrode, which can help the surface of Cu foam to form special lamellar cross-linked CuO nanoarchitectures with strong adhesion and then overcome the defect of the deposited NiCo layered double hydroxides (NC LDH) on the stress and adhesion. The expected electrode shows more than 70% improvement in cycling stability at an ultra-high current density of 20 A g^-1, relative to the active material layer of the electrode with strong stress and weak adhesion. Meanwhile, benefiting from its lamellar cross-linked nanoarchitectures having large specific surface area and many nano-pores, it presents a high specific capacitance of 3010.8F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 and a good rate capability of 59.3% at 50 A g^-1. It is foreseen that this finding provides a novel, universal strategy for managing the surface and interface of the metal substrate, thereby obtaining a reliable, stable electrode.

2D/2D Nanoarchitectured Nb2C/Ti3C2 MXene Heterointerface for High-Energy Supercapacitors with Sustainable Life Cycle

Layered 2D/2D heterointerface composites experience interesting properties that greatly stimulate the recent surge in the attention as robust supercapacitor electrode materials, especially the MXene-based 2D/2D heterointerface for its robust energy storage compatibility. This report unveils a synergistically in situ prepared 2D/2D Nb₂C/Ti₃C₂ MXene (NCTC) heterointerface nanoarchitecture by facile one-pot chemical etching. The methodology adopted enables the interconnected and simultaneous growth of MXenes exposing and retaining their active surfaces for enhanced ion diffusion pathways, charge storage dynamics, microstructural stability, and a noticeable potential window. Henceforth, the in situ developed NCTC heterointerface electrode delivered an excellent specific capacitance of 584 F/g at 2 A/g with a commendable energy density of 38.5 W h/kg in MXene supercapacitors owing to the augmented surface- and redox-based charge storage at the interface. Finally, the developed all-solid-state system demonstrated a superior cycling retention of 98% capacitance after 50,000 cycles. These superlative results encourage the exploration of such prospective 2D/2D heterointerfaces with intriguing charge storage and microstructural attributes for designing next-generation energy storage systems.

Unveiling the promotion of intermediates transport kinetics on the N/S co-doping 3D structure titanium carbide aerogel for high-performance supercapacitors

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides (MXene) have shown great advantages as electrode materials in the new generation of energy storage, especially in supercapacitors. However, the inherent low specific capacitance and restacking layers of nanosheets that occur during electrode preparation further reduce the electrochemical performance of the materials. Based on this, we design a N, S co-doping electrode with a three-dimensional (3D) structure, which not only improves the specific capacitance through fundamentally modifying the electronic structure of the electrode materials, but also effectively improves the rate performance of the electrode by preventing the restacking of 2D materials. The N, S co-doping 3D architecture Ti₃C₂T_x electrode (TC/NS-3D) exhibits an excellent capacitance value of 440 F g^-1 at 5 mV s^-1 and 64% capacitance retention rate at a high scan rate of 1000 mV s^-1 in 3 mol L^-1 H₂SO₄ electrolyte. The TC/NS-3D electrode also shows excellent capacitance retention of 97.2% after the 10,000 cycles stability test. The density functional theory (DFT) analysis reveals the enhanced performance is attributed to accelerated intermediates transport kinetics promoted by 3D structure engineering and N, S co-doping for Ti₃C₂T_x. This study is promising in designing heteroatomic doping 3D structure MXene-based materials for electrochemical energy storage systems.

Magneto-Electrodeposition of 3D Cross-Linked NiCo-LDH for Flexible High-Performance Supercapacitors

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with outstanding redox activity on flexible current collectors can serve as ideal cathode materials for flexible hybrid supercapacitors in wearable energy storage devices. Electrodeposition is a facile, time-saving, and economical technique to fabricate LDHs. The limited loading mass induced by insufficient mass transport and finite exposure of active sites, however, greatly hinders the improvement of areal capacity. Herein, magneto-electrodeposition (MED) under high magnetic fields up to 9 T is developed to fabricate NiCo-LDH on flexible carbon cloth (CC) as well as Ti₃ C₂ T_x functionalized CC. Owing to the magneto-hydrodynamic effect induced by magnetic-electric field coupling, the loading mass and exposure of active sites are significantly increased. Moreover, a 3D cross-linked nest-like microstructure is constructed. The MED-derived NiCo-LDH delivers an ultrahigh areal capacity of 3.12 C cm^-2 at 1 mA cm^-2 and as-fabricated flexible hybrid supercapacitors show an excellent energy density with an outstanding cycling stability. This work provides a novel route to improve electrochemical performances of layered materials through MED technique.

Hydrazine Hydrate Induced Three-Dimensional Interconnected Porous Flower-like 3D-NiCo-SDBS-LDH Microspheres for High-Performance Supercapacitor

Porous structure and surface defects are important to improve the performance of supercapacitors. In this study, a facile pathway was developed for high-performance supercapacitors, which can produce transition metal hydroxides (LDHs) with abundant porous structure and surface defects. The NiCo-SDBS-LDH was prepared by one-step hydrothermal reaction using sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) as anionic surfactant. And then, three dimensional (3D) interconnected porous flower-like 3D-NiCo-SDBS-LDH microspheres were designed and synthesized using the gas-phase hydrazine hydrate reduction method. Results showed that the hydrazine hydrate reduction not only introduces a large number of pores into 3D-NiCo-SDBS-LDH microspheres and causes the formation of oxygen vacancies, but it also roughens the surface of the microspheres. All these changes contribute to the enhancement of electrochemical activity of 3D-NiCo-SDBS-LDH; the NiCo-SDBS-LDH electrode after hydrazine hydrate treatment (3D-NiCo-SDBS-LDH) exhibits a higher specific capacitance of 1148 F·g^-1 at 1 A·g^-1 (about 1.46 times larger than that of NiCo-SDBS-LDH) and excellent long cycle life with 94% retention after 4000 cycles. Moreover, the assembled 3D-NiCo-SDBS-LDH//AC (active carbon) asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) achieves remarkable energy density of 73.14 W h·kg^-1 at 800 W·kg^-1 and long-term cycling stability of 95.5% retention for up to 10,000 cycles. The outstanding electrochemical performance can be attributed to the synergy between the rich porous structure and the roughened surface that has been created by the hydrazine hydrate treatment.

Slight Zinc Doping by an Ultrafast Electrodeposition Process Boosts the Cycling Performance of Layered Double Hydroxides for Ultralong-Life-Span Supercapacitors

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have attracted much attention in supercapacitors because of the high specific surface area and theoretical capacitance. However, the bad cycling stability has always been their Achilles' heel that restrains their further application. In this paper, a small amount of unactive and single-valence element zinc, which has no contribution to the capacitance of electrodes, was first doped into NiCo-LDHs through two consecutive electrodeposition processes only within 30 min. With a polyaniline (PANI) nanolayer as the interlayer, an ultrathin NiCoZn-LDH nanoplate network was well-anchored on the carbon cloth surface. The slight Zn²⁺ doping dramatically enhanced the cycling performance of LDHs with little capacitance decay. Zn²⁺ doping enhanced the cyclic structural stability of NiCoZn-LDHs, while the PANI layer strengthened the interface interaction between LDHs and the current collector. By controlling the doping content of Zn²⁺ at 2.9%, the composite electrode achieved the best performance with a high specific capacitance of 1749 F g^-1 and an ultralong life span with 89% capacitance retention after 40,000 charge-discharge cycles. This work offers a novel strategy to fast build LDH-based supercapacitors with both high specific capacitance and cycling performance.

Heterogeneous assembly of Ni-Co layered double hydroxide/sulfonated graphene nanosheet composites as battery-type materials for hybrid supercapacitors

Graphene-based hybrid composites as positive electrodes have aroused great interest in the field of hybrid supercapacitors. However, the charge storage capability of hybrid composites suffers from the scarce interaction between their end members to some extent. Herein, a hybrid composite with electrostatic interaction was obtained by employing a heterogeneous assembly strategy of Ni-Co layered double hydroxide (LDH) and sulfonated graphene nanosheets (SGN). Depending on the substitution of the negatively charged SGN for the interlayer nitrate anions compensating for the positively charged LDH host slabs, the abundance of Ni³⁺ on the surface of the hybrid composite could be increased to intensify the electrostatic interaction within hybrid composites. As expected, the effective coupling of LDH with SGN ensured the uniform incorporation of heterogeneous components. The unique structure of the hybrid composite accelerated electron transfer and ion diffusion processes during electrochemical reactions, which is beneficial to improve the electrochemical performance of battery-type electrodes. Further evaluation showed that the specific capacity of the LDH/SGN hybrid composite is 1177 C g^-1 (2354 F g^-1) at 1 A g^-1. Additionally, the LDH/SGN//AC hybrid supercapacitor achieved an energy density of 43 W h kg^-1 at 800 W kg^-1 and still retained 94% of its initial specific capacitance over 10 000 cycles. The boosting effect of the electrostatic interaction within the hybrid composite on electrochemical properties offers a novel pathway for the development of supercapacitors.

Benzoate anions-intercalated cobalt-nickel layered hydroxide nanobelts as high-performance electrode materials for aqueous hybrid supercapacitors

Layered metal hydroxide salts (LHSs) have recently gained extensive interests as an efficient electrode material for supercapacitors (SCs). Herein, we report, for the first time ever, the synthesis of a cobalt-nickel layered hybrid organic-inorganic LHS that was intercalated with benzoate anions (B-CoNi-LHSs) and observe a high performance as electrode materials for hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs). B-CoNi-LHSs were synthesized by using a co-precipitation method, where sodium benzoate was added dropwise to cobalt and nickel salt solution, without the addition of any organic solvent or surfactant. Due to the intercalation of anions and synergistic interactions of the multi-metallic components, the B-CoNi-LHSs electrode showed a high specific capacity of 570 C g^-1 (specific capacitance of 1267 F·g^-1) at 1 A g^-1, excellent rate performance (65% from 1 to 10 A g^-1) and outstanding cycling performance (81.09% over 8000 cycles), in comparison to the mono-metallic counterparts. An HSC device, assembled by using B-CoNi-LHSs as the positive electrode and activated carbon (AC) as the negative one, exhibited a power density of 780 W kg^-1 at the energy density of 31.7 Wh kg^-1, and 8543 W kg^-1 at 18.1 Wh kg^-1. Results from this study show that the organic-inorganic hybrids of layered dual-metal hydroxides intercalated with benzoate anions may be a viable candidate as electrode materials for high-performance SCs.

Supercapacitor performance of porous nickel cobaltite nanosheets

In this work, nickel cobaltite (NiCo2O4) nanosheets with a porous structure were fabricated on nickel foam as a working electrode for supercapacitor applications. The nanosheets were fabricated by electrochemical deposition of nickel-cobalt hydroxide on the nickel foam substrate at ambient temperature in a three-electrode cell followed by annealing at 300 °C to transform the coating into a porous NiCo2O4 nanosheet. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed a three-dimensional mesoporous structure, which facilitates ion transport and electronic conduction for fast redox reactions. For one cycle, the NiCo2O4 electrodeposited nickel foam has a high specific capacitance (1734.9 F g-1) at a current density (CD) of 2 A g-1. The electrode capacitance decreased by only approximately 12.7% after 3500 cycles at a CD of 30 A g-1. Moreover, a solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was built utilising the NiCo2O4 nanosheets, carbon nanotubes, and a polyvinyl alcohol-potassium hydroxide gel as the anode, cathode, and solid-state electrolyte, respectively. The ASC displayed great electrochemical properties with a 42.25 W h kg-1 energy density at a power density of 298.79 W kg-1.

Cyclic voltammetry electrodeposition of well-dispersed Pd nanoparticles on carbon paper as a flow-through anode for microfluidic direct formate fuel cells

The preparation of low-loading and high-performance Pd-based electrodes is required for direct formate fuel cells. In this study, cyclic voltammetry electrodeposition is used to electrodeposit Pd nanoparticles on carbon paper (Pd/CP) and achieve excellent activity and promising stability toward the formate oxidation reaction (FOR). The prepared electrode shows a thin layer of hemispherical and well-dispersed Pd nanoparticles on the fibers of the carbon paper. The open structure and uniform catalyst distribution make the Pd/CP electrode show 2.56-fold higher active area and stability in the FOR as compared with those of commercial Pd/C catalysts. An air-breathing microfluidic direct formate fuel cell (μDFFC) with a Pd/CP electrode used as a flow-through anode is constructed to further assess electrode performance. The Pd/CP electrode with low Pd loading, 0.105 mg cm-2, delivers a peak power density and limiting current density of 46.6 mW cm-2 (443.8 mW mg-1Pd) and 288.4 mA cm-2, respectively. The performance of the μDFFC is superior to those of most others reported in the literature, further boosting the commercialization of this direct formate fuel cell to power next-generation portable electronics.

Boosting the capacitive property of nickel cobalt aluminum layered double hydroxide in neutral electrolyte

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) has shown great potential for energy storage due to their high theoretical specific capacitance, relatively low cost and eco-friendliness. LDH, however, always works in alkali aqueous electrolyte for supercapacitors, which brings serious environmental pollution. In this work, a reduced graphite oxide/Fe(CN)₆^3-- nickel cobalt aluminum LDH (RGO/Fe(CN)₆^3--LDH) composite has been prepared via ion-exchange reaction using RGO/LDH as precursor. RGO/Fe(CN)₆^3--LDH electrode provides a specific capacitance of 221 F g^-1 in a wide potential window of -1 ~ 0.8 V vs. SCE in Na₂SO₄ aqueous electrolyte, and which is much higher than that of LDH electrode (3.56 F g^-1). Owing to the wide potential window of RGO/Fe(CN)₆^3--LDH electrode, a symmetrical solid supercapacitor device (RGO/Fe(CN)₆^3--LDH//RGO/Fe(CN)₆^3--LDH) with a high voltage of 2.0 V can deliver a high specific energy of 25.2 Wh kg^-1 at a specific power of 250 W kg^-1, and a capacitance retention of 75% after galvanostatic charging/discharging at 5 A g^-1 for 5000 times. This work supplies enlightenment for boosting the capacitive performance of LDHs in neutral electrolyte.

Rational Design of Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Carbide/Nitride (MXene) Hybrids and Nanocomposites for Catalytic Energy Storage and Conversion

Electro-, photo-, and photoelectrocatalysis play a critical role toward the realization of a sustainable energy economy. They facilitate numerous redox reactions in energy storage and conversion systems, enabling the production of chemical feedstock and clean fuels from abundant resources like water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. One major obstacle for their large-scale implementation is the scarcity of cost-effective, durable, and efficient catalysts. A family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides (MXenes) has recently emerged as promising earth-abundant candidates for large-area catalytic energy storage and conversion due to their unique properties of hydrophilicity, high metallic conductivity, and ease of production by solution processing. To take full advantage of these desirable properties, MXenes have been combined with other materials to form MXene hybrids with significantly enhanced catalytic performances beyond the sum of their individual components. MXene hybridization tunes the electronic structure toward optimal binding of redox active species to improve intrinsic activity while increasing the density and accessibility of active sites. This review outlines recent strategies in the design of MXene hybrids for industrially relevant electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic applications such as water splitting, metal-air/sulfur batteries, carbon dioxide reduction, and nitrogen reduction. By clarifying the roles of individual material components in the MXene hybrids, we provide design strategies to synergistically couple MXenes with associated materials for highly efficient and durable catalytic applications. We conclude by highlighting key gaps in the current understanding of MXene hybrids to guide future MXene hybrid designs in catalytic energy storage and conversion applications.

Supercapacitor Performance of Nickel-Cobalt Sulfide Nanotubes Decorated Using Ni Co-Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets Grown in Situ on Ni Foam

In this study, to fabricate a non-binder electrode, we grew nickel–cobalt sulfide (NCS) nanotubes (NTs) on a Ni foam substrate using a hydrothermal method through a two-step approach, namely in situ growth and an anion-exchange reaction. This was followed by the electrodeposition of double-layered nickel-cobalt hydroxide (NCOH) over a nanotube-coated substrate to fabricate NCOH core-shell nanotubes. The final product is called NCS@NCOH herein. Structural and morphological analyses of the synthesized electrode materials were conducted via SEM and XRD. Different electrodeposition times were selected, including 10, 20, 40, and 80 s. The results indicate that the NCSNTs electrodeposited with NCOH nanosheets for 40 s have the highest specific capacitance (SC), cycling stability (2105 Fg⁻¹ at a current density of 2 Ag⁻¹), and capacitance retention (65.1% after 3,000 cycles), in comparison with those electrodeposited for 10, 20, and 80 s. Furthermore, for practical applications, a device with negative and positive electrodes made of active carbon and NCS@NCOH was fabricated, achieving a high-energy density of 23.73 Whkg⁻¹ at a power density of 400 Wkg⁻¹.

Enhancing Capacitance Performance of Ti3C2Tx MXene as Electrode Materials of Supercapacitor: From Controlled Preparation to Composite Structure Construction

Ti3C2Tx, a novel two-dimensional layer material, is widely used as electrode materials of supercapacitor due to its good metal conductivity, redox reaction active surface, and so on. However, there are many challenges to be addressed which impede Ti3C2Tx obtaining the ideal specific capacitance, such as restacking, re-crushing, and oxidation of titanium. Recently, many advances have been proposed to enhance capacitance performance of Ti3C2Tx. In this review, recent strategies for improving specific capacitance are summarized and compared, for example, film formation, surface modification, and composite method. Furthermore, in order to comprehend the mechanism of those efforts, this review analyzes the energy storage performance in different electrolytes and influencing factors. This review is expected to predict redouble research direction of Ti3C2Tx materials in supercapacitors.

A novel dual-tasking hollow cube NiFe2O4-NiCo-LDH@rGO hierarchical material for high preformance supercapacitor and glucose sensor

Binary transition metal oxides as electroactive materials have continuously aroused grumous attention due to their high theoretical specific capacitance, high valtage window, and multiple oxidation states. However, the tiny specific surface area, poor conductivity and unsatisfactory cycle stability limit their practical application. Hence, a synthetic strategy is designed to fabricate a dual-tasking hollow cube nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) - based composite (NiFe₂O₄-NiCo-LDH@rGO) with hierarchical structure. The composite is constructed by firstly preparing hollow NiFe₂O₄ from cube-like Ni - Fe bimetallic organic framework (NiFe-MOF), and then integrating nickel cobalt layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) nanowires, together with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via pyrolysis in conjuction with hydrothermal method. The NiFe₂O₄ possessing cubic hollow structure contributes to a huge accessible surface area, meanwhile alleviates large volume expansion/contraction effect, which facilitates suffcient permeation of the electrolyte and rapid ion/charge transport, and results in high cycling stability. The introduction of layered NiCo-LDH results in hierarchical structure and thus offers maximum contact areas with electrolyte, which heightens the specific capacitance of obtained composite and enhances the electro-catlytic activity towards oxidation of glucose. Furthermore, rGO layer greatly improves the electrical conductivity and ion diffusion/transport capability of composite. Benefiting from the unique structure and individual components of NiFe₂O₄-NiCo-LDH@rGO composite, the electrode delivers a high specific capacitance (750 C g^-1) and superb durability. Simultaneously, the asymmetrical device based on NiFe₂O₄-NiCo-LDH@rGO as positive electrode delivers remarkable energy density (50 Wh kg^-1). Moreover, NiFe₂O₄-NiCo-LDH@rGO exhibits good sensing performance with a sensitivity of 111.86 µA/µM cm^-2, the wide linear range of 3.500 × 10^-5 - 4.525 × 10^-3 M, and the detection limit of 12.94 × 10^-6 M with a signal to noise ratio of 3. Consequently, the NiFe₂O₄-NiCo-LDH@rGO could provide a prospective notion constructing bifunctional materials with hollow-cube hierarchical structure in the field of supercapacitors and electrochemical sensors.

Dandelion-like CuCo2O4 arrays on Ni foam as advanced positive electrode material for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors

In this paper, CuCo₂O₄ dandelion arrays grown on nickel foam (CuCo₂O₄/NF) was successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal route with post-heat-treatment for emolying as a high-performance positive electrode material for hybrid supercapacitors. Due to the unique tree-dimension porous (3D) microstructure and binder-free electrode architecture, the CuCo₂O₄/NF electrode deliveries a large specific capacitance of 2656.7 F g^-1 at an areal current density of 1 mA cm^-2. Moreover, it has an outstanding rate performance, as well as striking cycling stability. Additionally, a hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) was fabricated using CuCo₂O₄ as positive electrode and corals-like N-doping porous carbon (N-CCs) as negative electrode. The device exhibited a broad potential window of 1.55 V and a high specific capacitance of 273.9 F g^-1, which result in a largest energy density of 91.4 Wh kg^-1 and a maximum power density of 13.4 kW kg^-1. Finally, the assembled device manifests a preeminent electrochemical stability which maintained a 92.32% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. The practical application was visually validated by lighting a blue light-emitting diode.

Wire-Shaped 3D-Hybrid Supercapacitors as Substitutes for Batteries

We report a wire-shaped three-dimensional (3D)-hybrid supercapacitor with high volumetric capacitance and high energy density due to an interconnected 3D-configuration of the electrode allowing for large number of electrochemical active sites, easy access of electrolyte ions, and facile charge transport for flexible wearable applications. The interconnected and compact electrode delivers a high volumetric capacitance (gravimetric capacitance) of 73 F cm^-3 (2446 F g^-1), excellent rate capability, and cycle stability. The 3D-nickel cobalt-layered double hydroxide onto 3D-nickel wire (NiCo LDH/3D-Ni)//the 3D-manganese oxide onto 3D-nickel wire (Mn₃O₄/3D-Ni) hybrid supercapacitor exhibits energy density of 153.3 Wh kg^-1 and power density of 8810 W kg^-1. The red light-emitting diode powered by the as-prepared hybrid supercapacitor can operate for 80 min after being charged for tens of seconds and exhibit excellent electrochemical stability under various deformation conditions. The results verify that such wire-shaped 3D-hybrid supercapacitors are promising alternatives for batteries with long charge-discharge times, for smart wearable and implantable devices.

Scalable nanohybrids of graphitic carbon nitride and layered NiCo hydroxide for high supercapacitive performance

The limited number of edge nitrogen atoms and low intrinsic electrical conductivity hinder the supercapacitive energy storage applications of the nitrogen-rich graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). In this study, a novel graphitic carbon nitride/NiCo-layered double hydroxide (CNLDH), a two-dimensional nanohybrid, is prepared by a simple hydrothermal synthesis. The homogeneous interpolation of g-C3N4 nanosheets into NiCo LDH stacked nanosheets effectively increases the overall performances of the g-C3N4/NiCo LDH nanohybrid. The improved morphology of the nanohybrid electrode upon the addition of g-C3N4 to the NiCo LDH yields a specific capacity of 183.43 mA h g-1 in 6 M KOH at 1 A g-1, higher than those of bare g-C3N4 (20.89 mA h g-1) and NiCo LDH (95.92 mA h g-1) electrodes. The excellent supercapacitive performance of the CNLDH nanohybrid is complemented by its low internal resistance, excellent rate capability, and large cycling lifetime. Furthermore, the hybrid supercapacitor is assembled using CNLDH 0.1 as a positive electrode and activated carbon (AC) as a negative electrode. The hybrid supercapacitor device of CNLDH 0.1//AC shows the maximum specific capacity of 37.44 mA h g-1 at 1 A g-1 with remarkable energy density, power density and good cycling performance. This confirms that the CNLDH 0.1 nanohybrid is an excellent electrode material for supercapacitor applications.

Hierarchical PANI/NiCo-LDH Core-Shell Composite Networks on Carbon Cloth for High Performance Asymmetric Supercapacitor

In this work, a facile two-step strategy is adopted to construct hierarchical polyaniline/NiCo-layered double hydroxide (PANI/NiCo-LDH) core-shell composite nanofiber networks on carbon cloth (CC). Three-dimensional (3D) porous PANI nanofiber networks are firstly uniformly anchored on CC by in-situ oxidative polymerization, followed by growth of NiCo-LDH nanoflakes on the crosslinked PANI framework via electrochemical deposition. The morphology and electrochemical properties of PANI/NiCo-LDH composites are controlled by the deposition time of LDH. Benefiting from rapid electron transport and ion diffusion, the well-defined PANI/NiCo-LDH hierarchical composite with 200 s deposition of LDH delivers a large capacitance of 1845 F g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ and excellent cycling stability of 82% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles at a very high current density of 10.0 A g⁻¹. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) assembled with PANI/NiCo-LDH as a positive electrode and activated carbon (AC) as a negative electrode exhibits a high capacitance of 147.2 F g⁻¹ in a potential range from 0 to 1.5 V and superior energy density of 46.0 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 351.6 W kg⁻¹.

All-Solid-State Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitor with Good Cycling Performance and Ultra-Power Density by Electrode Materials of Core-Shell CoNiO2@NiAl-Layered Double Hydroxide and Hollow Spherical α-Fe2O3

High electrochemical performance of asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) depends on exquisite nanostructure design and synthesis of electrodes, including structural controllable design and synthesis of high theoretical performance materials and nanocomposite materials. Herein, a template-free hierarchical core-shell nanostructure of CoNiO₂@NiAl-layered double hydroxide (NiAl-LDH) and α-Fe₂O₃ with a hollow spherical structure composed of nanoparticles are successfully prepared. The CoNiO₂@NiAl-LDH as the cathode electrode and the hollow spherical α-Fe₂O₃ as the anode electrode of the ASC devices exhibit superior electrochemical performance. The gel of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and KOH acts as the solid electrolyte and the separator to assemble into the all-solid-state flexible ASC devices. Two of the CoNiO₂@NiAl-LDH//α-Fe₂O₃ ASC devices in series are fabricated to meet the voltage requirement of mobile energy equipment, which exhibit a maximum energy density of 65.68 Wh kg^-1 at the power density of 369.45 W kg^-1. Interestingly, in addition to many advantages that the solid electrolyte in ASC devices already have, we find that it can be an alternative way of solving the problem of iron oxide cycling performance, and of course it can also be used as a reference for other materials with poor cycling performance.

Nanoneedle-decorated NiCo-layered double hydroxide microspheres tuned as high-efficiency electrodes for pseudocapacitors

Nanoneedle-decorated flower-like NiCo-LDH microspheres are tuned by varying the amounts of NH₄F, providing tunable electrochemical performance for their use as electrodes for pseudocapacitors.

Hybrid Architectures based on 2D MXenes and Low-Dimensional Inorganic Nanostructures: Methods, Synergies, and Energy-Related Applications

Being conductive and flexible, MXenes, including transition metal carbides and nitrides, are expected to compete with, or even outperform graphene as 2D substrates serving in versatile applications. On the other hand, the extraordinary electrochemical activities of MXenes make them promising candidates as electrode materials in rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors, or as electrocatalysts in water splitting. However, MXenes are inclined to self-restack due to hydrogen bonding or van der Waals interactions, which may lead to substantial loss of electroactive area as well as inaccessibility of ions and electrolytes. In this sense, hybridizing 2D MXenes and low-dimensional inorganic nanostructures in elaborately designed architectures is of utmost significance, and provides a chance to integrate their unique properties in a complementary way. As such, this review is dedicated to highlighting recent progress in this regime, putting emphasis on the methods, structural and functional synergies, and energy-related applications. Moreover, the present challenges and the future development directions are also discussed in depth.