Synthesis and Characterization of Nb2CTx MXene and its Composites for Energy Storage and Water Splitting Applications

Abstract

Two-dimensional MXene is demonstrating promising efficiency for the generation of oxygen (𝑂2) and hydrogen (𝐻2) as well as owing to its huge potential for energy storage applications. In this thesis, we enhanced the MXene structural properties to use it as suitable for supercapacitor electrode applications having an outstanding capacitance of 652 F/g at 5 mV/s and use it as bifunctional for overall bifunctional water-splitting electrolysis with the ability to minimize application costs, a bifunctional water-splitting electrolyzer can act efficiently as both OER and HER electrodes by following a simple hydrothermal route in which nitrogen is doped by using Urea as it is an inexpensive and eco-friendly chemical. An increase in d-spacing from 8.9 Å to 10.0 Å after doping in pristine and EDX has confirmed the presence of nitrogen in MXene. For 14 hours pristine MXene retained 81%, whereas nitrogen-doped retained 95% in the chronoamperometry test. In addition, I outlined the process for etching and delamination of MXene, as well as the procedure for intercalating Alkali and Alkaline ions (Li, Na, K, & Mg) in MXene, making it ideal for supercapacitor electrode applications. In both projects, solution resistance and charge transfer decreased when ions were intercalated and nitrogen was doped in MXene which collectively point towards advancements in the storage devices and kinetics of water-splitting reactions.