High-Performance Flexible and Symmetric Supercapacitors Based on Micro-Flower-Like MnSe@Ti3C2Tx Heterostructure

Small. 2024 Nov 24:e2409130. doi: 10.1002/smll.202409130. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Flexible supercapacitors, renowned for their exceptional power density and cycling stability, are a focus in the field of energy storage. Ti3C2Tx MXene is a promising electrode material for supercapacitors owing to its excellent metallic conductivity. However, its stacking layered structure limits device performance on specific capacitance, operating voltage, and energy density. Herein, a MnSe@Ti3C2Tx heterostructure is developed to enhance the electrochemical performance of Ti3C2Tx-based electrode materials. With the solvothermal synthesis method, MnSe nanosheets are in situ grown on Ti3C2Tx surface to form micro-flower-like MnSe@Ti3C2Tx heterostructures by adjusting the ratio of ethanolamine solvent and the amount of Ti3C2Tx. The specific capacitance of the optimized heterostructure (E3/MnSe@Ti3C2Tx-45) is as high as 721.4 F g-1 at 1 A g-1, approximately ten times higher than that of pure Ti3C2Tx. The MnSe@Ti3C2Tx flexible symmetric supercapacitor (MT-FSC) based on E3/MnSe@Ti3C2Tx-45 exhibits a wide working voltage window of 1.2 V and a large energy density of 28.68 Wh kg-1 at 308.23 W kg-1. The capacitance retention rate keeps 90.77% after 4000 charge-discharge cycles. Furthermore, MT-FSC can power LEDs even under large-angle (90°) bending. This heterostructure electrode material not only improves the electrochemical performance of Ti3C2Tx-based flexible supercapacitors but also offers a robust energy supply for flexible wearable electronic devices.

Keywords: MXene; MnSe; energy storage; flexible supercapacitors; heterostructure.