Composite MAX phase/MXene/Ni electrodes with a porous 3D structure for hydrogen evolution and energy storage application

abstract

MXenes, a family of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, have been discovered as exciting candidates for various energy storage and conversion applications, including green hydrogen production by water splitting. Today, these materials mostly remain interesting objects for in-depth fundamental studies and scientific curiosity due to issues related to their preparation and environmental stability, limiting potential industrial applications. This work proposes a simple and inexpensive concept of composite electrodes composed of molybdenum- and titanium-containing MAX phases and MXene as functional materials. The concept is based on the modification of the initial MAX phase by the addition of metallic Ni, tuning Al- and carbon content and synthesis conditions, followed by fluoride-free etching under alkaline conditions. The proposed methodology allows producing a composite electrode with a well-developed 3D porous MAX phase-based structure acting as a support for electrocatalytic species, including MXene, and possessing good mechanical integrity. Electrochemical tests have shown a high electrochemical activity of such electrodes towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), combined with a relatively high areal capacitance (up to 10 F cm-2). The MAX phase/MXene/Ni composite with 3D porous structure prepared was assessed for energy conversion and storage application, using the hydrogen evolution reaction under alkaline conditions as a model system.

keywords

RAY PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY; MXENE; DENSITY; MOLYBDENUM; DEPOSITION; METALS; DESIGN; ALLOY

subject category

Chemistry

authors

Sergiienko, SA; Lajaunie, L; Rodríguez-Castellón, E; Constantinescu, G; Lopes, DV; Shcherban, ND; Calvino, JJ; Labrincha, JA; Sofer, Z; Kovalevsky, AV

Groups

G3 - Electrochemical Materials, Interfaces and Coatings
G4 - Renewable Materials and Circular Economy

Projects

Collaboratory for Emerging Technologies, CoLab (EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)

CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)

CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)

Associated Laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (LA/P/0006/2020)

acknowledgements

This work is financed by Portugal 2020 through European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the frame of CENTRO2020 in the scope of the project CENTRO-01-0247-FEDER-181254 and in the scope of the project CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020 & LA/P/0006/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC (PIDDAC). The research leading to these results was supported by the Johannes Amos Comenius Programme, European Structural and Investment Funds, project 'CHEMFELLS V' (No. CZ.02.01.01/00/22_010/0003004). LL acknowledges funding from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (PID2022-140370NB-I00) MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 FEDER, UE, and the European Union "NextGenerationEU"/PRTR (RYC2021-033764-I, CPP2021-008986). The authors also acknowledge the use of (S)TEM instrumentation provided by the National Facility ELECMI ICTS ("Division de Microscopia Electronica", Universidad de Cadiz, DME-UCA). The support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and of "ERDF A way of making Europe" by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR is also acknowledged.