Two-Dimensional Titanium Carbide MXene As a Cathode Material for Hybrid Magnesium/Lithium-Ion Batteries

As an alternative to pure lithium-ion, Li+, systems, a hybrid magnesium, Mg2+, and Li+ battery can potentially combine the high capacity, high voltage, and fast Li+ intercalation of Li-ion battery cathodes and the high capacity, low cost, and dendrite-free Mg metal anodes. Herein, we report on the use of two-dimensional titanium carbide, Ti3C2Tx (MXene), as a cathode in hybrid Mg2+/Li+ batteries, coupled with a Mg metal anode. Free-standing and flexible Ti3C2Tx/carbon nanotube composite "paper" delivered ∼100 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C and ∼50 mAh g-1 at 10 C. At 1 C the capacity was maintained for >500 cycles at 80 mAh g-1. The Mo2CTx MXene also demonstrated good performance as a cathode material in this hybrid battery. Considering the variety of available MXenes, this work opens the door for exploring a new large family of 2D materials with high electrical conductivity and large intercalation capacity as cathodes for hybrid Mg2+/Li+ batteries.