Synthesis of Low-Crystalline MnO2/MXene Composites for Capacitive Deionization with Efficient Desalination Capacity

Abstract

MXene has drawn widespread attention as a potential material for electrode use in capacitive deionization (CDI). However, the applications of MXene are limited by its property of low electrical capacity. Herein, a MnO2/MXene composite was firstly evaluated in a capacitive deionization system, in which the MnO2 acts as intercalation-type pseudocapacitive electrodes to enhance the electrical capacity, and MXene provides an electron conduction highway network that improves the charge transfer of the MnO2. The result showed that the low-crystallinity MnO2 with irregular particles was well-distributed on the surface of the MXene. The desalination capacity of 30.5 mg·g−1 is achieved at a voltage window of 1.2 V, which was higher than that of the reported pure MXene and MnO2. The electrical double-layer (EDL) capacitive and the diffusion-controlled processes are the main charge storage mechanisms, and the EDL contribution provides 50.3% to the total capacitance. This result suggests a promising direction for further applying a MnO2/MXene composite in CDI.