2D Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets coated cellulose fibers based 3D nanostructures for efficient water desalination

We introduce a novel and facile synthesis strategy to design 2D MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets (NSs) coated cellulose fibers (CLF) based 3D nanostructures (CLF@Ti3C2Tx) to overcome the drawbacks of co-ion expulsion in carbon-based, commonly used CDI electrodes and restacking of MXene NSs due to van der Waals forces in the pure MXene based electrodes. CLF extracted from facial tissue paper were used as a porous carbon core-substrate to coat shell of exfoliated two-dimensional (2D) Ti(3)C(2)T(x )NSs in order to prepare unique CLF@Ti(3)C(2)T(x )nanos-tructures composite by an improved dip-coating method. After appropriate structural and chemical character-ization, the designed CLF@Ti(3)C(2)T(x )material was assembled in symmetric capacitive deionization (CDI) cell as an active electrode and the electrochemical properties and desalination capacity were studied in detail. Interestingly, the CLF@Ti(3)C(2)T(x )based active electrodes displayed good specific capacitance of 142 F.g(-1) in 1 M sodium chloride electrolyte, and high salt adsorption capacitance of 35 mg.g(-1) compared with the pure MXene and carbon-based electrodes at an applied voltage of 1.2 V, with considerable cycling stability of 10 cycles. Inspired by the conventional chemical gilding process, the proposed unique and low-cost synthesis strategy and unique design open a new way to develop MXene-carbon based composite nanostructures for CDI and energy storage applications.

Automated summary

A novel and facile synthesis strategy was introduced to design 2D MXene nanosheets coated cellulose fibers based 3D nanostructures, overcoming the drawbacks in commonly used CDI electrodes and MXene based electrodes. The CLF@Ti3C2Tx based active electrodes exhibited good specific capacitance and high salt adsorption capacitance in 1M sodium chloride electrolyte, with considerable cycling stability.