Binder-free flexible Ti3C2Tx MXene/reduced graphene oxide/carbon nanotubes film as electrode for asymmetric supercapacitor

MXene nanosheets are susceptible to self-accumulation during operation, which significantly hampers their application. However, this issue can be effectively addressed through the introduction of intercalation materials. In this study, an MXene/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (MGC) film is prepared using vacuum-assisted filtration. CNTs and rGO nanosheets, as intercalation materials, play a crucial role in forming a stable interlayer structure with MXene nanosheets, resulting in an expansion of the MXene layer spacing and the creation of multi-directional stable ion transport channels. Consequently, a larger number of ion-accessible active sites are exposed. The prepared MGC film exhibits an impressive specific capacitance of 463.5F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) assembled with the MGC film as the negative electrode and MnO2 as the positive electrode demonstrates a large voltage window of 1.7 V, a high energy density of 33.95 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 814.8 W kg−1, and an outstanding capacitance retention rate of 92.9% after 8000 cycles at 3 A g−1. The optimization strategy for MGC electrodes not only showcases the feasibility of MXene development but also provides crucial technical support for the application of MXene in the emerging generation of portable and flexible wearable energy storage devices.