Two-Dimensional Vanadium Carbide (MXene) as a High-Capacity Cathode Material for Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries

Rechargeable aluminum batteries (Al batteries) can potentially be safer, cheaper, and deliver higher energy densities than those of commercial Li-ion batteries (LIBs). However, due to the very high charge density of Al3+ cations and their strong interactions with the host lattice, very few cathode materials are known to be able to reversibly intercalate these ions. Herein, a rechargeable Al battery based on a two-dimensional (2D) vanadium carbide (V2CTx) MXene cathode is reported. The reversible intercalation of Al3+ cations between the MXene layers is suggested to be the mechanism for charge storage. It was found that the electrochemical performance could be significantly improved by converting multilayered V2CTx particles to few-layer sheets. With specific capacities of more than 300 mAh g–1 at high discharge rates and relatively high discharge potentials, V2CTx MXene electrodes show one of the best performances among the reported cathode materials for Al batteries. This study can lead to foundations for the development of high-capacity and high energy density rechargeable Al batteries by showcasing the potential of a large family of intercalation-type cathode materials based on MXenes.