A Laser-Induced Mo 2 CT x MXene Hybrid Anode for High-Performance Li-Ion Batteries.

MXenes, a fast-growing family of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides/nitrides, are promising for electronics and energy storage applications. Mo 2 CT x MXene, in particular, has demonstrated a higher capacity than other MXenes as an anode for Li-ion batteries. Yet, such enhanced capacity is accompanied by slow kinetics and poor cycling stability. Herein, it is revealed that the unstable cycling performance of Mo 2 CT x is attributed to the partial oxidation into MoO x with structural degradation. A laser-induced Mo 2 CT x /Mo 2 C (LS-Mo 2 CT x ) hybrid anode has been developed, of which the Mo 2 C nanodots boost redox kinetics, and the laser-reduced oxygen content prevents the structural degradation caused by oxidation. Meanwhile, the strong connections between the laser-induced Mo 2 C nanodots and Mo 2 CT x nanosheets enhance conductivity and stabilize the structure during charge-discharge cycling. The as-prepared LS-Mo 2 CT x anode exhibits an enhanced capacity of 340 mAh g -1 vs 83 mAh g -1 (for pristine) and an improved cycling stability (capacity retention of 106.2% vs 80.6% for pristine) over 1000 cycles. The laser-induced synthesis approach underlines the potential of MXene-based hybrid materials for high-performance energy storage applications.