3D nitrogen-doped Ti3C2Tx/rGO foam with marco- and microporous structures for enhance supercapacitive performance

Unlocking the Potential of Ti3C2Tx MXene: Present Trends and Future Developments of Gas Sensing

In recent years, the need for future developments in sensor technology has arisen out of the changing landscape, such as pollution monitoring, industrial safety, and healthcare. MXenes, a 2D class of transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, have emerged as a particularly promising group in part due to their exceptionally high conductivity, large area, and tunable surface chemistry. Proposed future research directions, including material modification and novel sensor designs, are presented to maximize Ti3C2Tx MXene-based sensors for various gas sensing applications. While recent progress in Ti3C2Tx MXene-based gas sensors is reviewed, we consolidate their material properties, fabrication strategy, and sensing mechanisms. Further, the significant progress on the synthesis and applications of Ti3C2Tx MXene-based gas sensors, as well as the innovative technologies developed, will be discussed in detail. Interestingly, the high sensitivity, selectivity, and quick response times identified in recent studies are discussed, with specificity and composite formation highlighted to have a significant influence on sensor performance. In addition, this review highlights the limitations witnessed in real-life implementability, including stability, the possibility of achieving reproducible results, and interaction with currently available technologies. Prospects for further work are considered, emphasizing increased production scale, new techniques for synthesis, and new application areas for Ti3C2Tx MXenes, including electronic nose and environmental sensing. Contemplating the existing works, further directions and the development framework for Ti3C2Tx MXene-based gas sensors are discussed.

Orbit symmetry breaking in MXene implements enhanced soft bioelectronic implants

Bioelectronic implants featuring soft mechanics, excellent biocompatibility, and outstanding electrical performance hold promising potential to revolutionize implantable technology. These biomedical implants can record electrophysiological signals and execute direct therapeutic interventions within internal organs, offering transformative potential in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of various pathological conditions. However, challenges remain in improving excessive impedance at the bioelectronic-tissue interface and thus the efficacy of electrophysiological signaling and intervention. Here, we devise orbit symmetry breaking in MXene (a low-cost scalability, biocompatible, and conductive two dimensionally layered material, which we refer to as OBXene), which exhibits low bioelectronic-tissue impedance, originating from the out-of-plane charge transfer. Furthermore, the Schottky-induced piezoelectricity stemming from the asymmetric orbital configuration of OBXene facilitates interlayered charge transport in the device. We report an OBXene-based cardiac patch applied on the left ventricular epicardium of both rodent and porcine models to enable spatiotemporal epicardium mapping and pacing while coupling the wireless and battery-free operation for long-term real-time recording and closed-loop stimulation.

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.

Free-standing reduced graphene oxide/carboxymethylcellulose-polyaniline (RGO/CMC-PANI) hybrid film electrode for high-performance asymmetric supercapacitor device

This work demonstrates a facile and effective strategy for the preparation of a reduced graphene oxide/carboxymethylcellulose-polyaniline (RGO/CMC-PANI) hybrid film electrode. Specifically, through the hydrogen bonding interaction between -OH of CMC molecules and -NH₂ of aniline monomer, PANI grows in an ordered manner on the surface of CMC, which effectively alleviates the structural collapse of PANI during the continuous charge/discharge process. After compounding with RGO, CMC-PANI bridges adjacent RGO sheets to form a complete conductive path, and opens the gap between RGO sheet layers to obtain fast ion channels. As a result, the RGO/CMC-PANI electrode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. Moreover, an asymmetric supercapacitor was fabricated using RGO/CMC-PANI as the anode and Ti₃C₂T_x as the cathode. The results show that the device has a large specific capacitance of 450 mF cm^-2 (81.8 F g^-1) at 1 mA cm^-2 and a high energy density of 140.6 μWh cm^-2 at a power density of 749.9 μW cm^-2. Besides, 87.3 % initial capacitance and 100 % good coulombic efficiency can be maintained even after 20,000 GCD cycles. Therefore, the device has a broad application prospect in the field of new-generation microelectronic energy storage.

Dandelion-Like CuCo2O4@ NiMn LDH Core/Shell Nanoflowers for Excellent Battery-Type Supercapacitor

Dandelion-like CuCo₂O₄ nanoflowers (CCO NFs) with ultrathin NiMn layered double hydroxide (LDH) shells were fabricated via a two-step hydrothermal method. The prepared CuCo₂O₄@NiMn LDH core/shell nanoflowers (CCO@NM LDH NFs) possessed a high specific surface area (~181 m²·g^-1) with an average pore size of ~256 nm. Herein, the CCO@NM LDH NFs exhibited the typical battery-type electrode material with a specific capacity of 2156.53 F·g^-1 at a current density of 1 A·g^-1. With the increase in current density, the rate capability retention was 68.3% at a current density of 10 A·g^-1. In particular, the 94.6% capacity of CCO@NM LDH NFs remains after 2500 cycles at 5 A·g^-1. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) with CCO@NM LDH NFs//activated carbon (AC) demonstrates a remarkable capacitance of 303.11 F·g^-1 at 1 A·g^-1 with excellent cycling stability. The coupling and synergistic effects of multi-valence transition metals provide a convenient channel for the electrochemical process, which is beneficial to spread widely within the realm of electrochemical energy storage.

Nanocellulose-Linked MXene/Polyaniline Aerogel Films for Flexible Supercapacitors

In the development of energy supply systems for smart wearable devices, supercapacitors stand out owing to their ability of quick and efficient energy supply. However, their application is limited due to their low energy density and poor mechanical energy. Herein, a strategy for the preparation of flexible supercapacitors is reported, which is based on the fabrication of aerogel films by simultaneously utilising cellulose nanofiber (CNFs) as an MXene intercalation material and polyaniline (PANI) as a template material. CNFs, which can form hydrogen-bonded networks, enhance the mechanical properties of MXene from 44.25 to 119.56 MPa, and the high electron transport properties of PANI endow MXene with a capacitance of 327 F g^-1 and a resistance of 0.23 Ω. Furthermore, the combination of CNFs and PANI enables a 71.6% capacitance retention after 3000 charge/discharge and 500 folding cycles. This work provides a new platform for the development of flexible supercapacitors.