Surface fluorine preservation dependence of Ti3C2Tx MXene for high electrochemical properties in ionic liquid electrolytes

We identified the contribution of -CF3 terminations to the Ti3C2Tx surface structure when ethanol and water were used as solvents during delamination through experimental and computational studies. Ethanol-treated -CF3-terminated Ti3C2Tx achieves better prevention of nanoflake aggregation, hydrophobicity, and small size, enabling enhanced capacitive properties in ionic liquid compared to water-treated Ti3C2Tx in aqueous and ionic liquid electrolytes.

Automated summary

We have identified the role of -CF3 terminations in the surface structure of Ti3C2Tx during delamination using ethanol and water as solvents. Ethanol-treated -CF3-terminated Ti3C2Tx exhibits enhanced capacitive properties in ionic liquid, including prevention of nanoflake aggregation, hydrophobicity, and small size, compared to water-treated Ti3C2Tx in both aqueous and ionic liquid electrolytes.