Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of 2D Metal Carbides/Nitrides and their Composites for Energy Storage Devices

Abstract

An increase in energy demand leads to the shift from non-sustainable to sustainable energy sources, increasing the demand for accumulators or energy storage systems. Different technologies are adopted to store energy, among these batteries and supercapacitors are high in focus due to their portable nature and energy density. To improve energy storage devices, a continuous search for good electrode material is in progress. This leads to a novel class of 2D constituents called MXene. This thesis comprises different electrode materials synthesis which are metal oxides/chalcogenides hybrids with a new and least explored MXene having good electronic and conductive properties i.e. Ti3CNTx. Ti3CNTx is synthesized by the etching of the A-layer from its parent MAX phase. Metal oxides/ chalcogenides are synthesized using different methods. Hybrids of Ti3CNTx and metal oxide/ chalcogenides are prepared using a heat treatment method. The phase identification and morphology studies of the synthesized hybrids are done with the help of different techniques X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The application of synthesized material towards energy storage gadgets like lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and supercapacitors is performed and also the electrocatalytic behavior as a bifunctional catalyst towards water splitting is determined. In LIBs, the Bi2Se3/d-Ti3CNTx coin cell is fabricated using Li-metal as a counter electrode. It shows good specific discharge capacity i.e. 650 mAh/g while in supercapacitors, the material is tested in a 2 M KOH solution in a three electrode system. Among all the synthesized hybrids, Bi2S3/d-Ti3CNTx shows good specific capacitance i.e. 2309.80 F/g. The electrocatalytic water splitting of Ti3CNTx and its hybrid is studied and it is observed that it also plays a good role in water splitting. This dissertation highlights the advantages of using a new carbonaceous material i.e. Ti3CNTx. The preparation of novel hybrids which are metal chalcogenides with d-Ti3CNTx and their electrochemical behavior in various energy storage fields. Some basic issues associated with Ti3CNTx are discussed in this dissertation.