2D-on-2D core–shell Co3(PO4)2 stacked micropetals@Co2Mo3O8 nanosheets and binder-free 2D CNT–Ti3C2TX–MXene electrodes for high-energy solid-state flexible supercapacitors

Abstract

The structural instability and sluggish kinetics of conventional positive electrodes with the lower capacitance of carbon-based negative electrodes result in an inferior performance for state-of-art supercapacitors (SCs). A general yet sustainable approach is proposed here to overcome this hitch by assembling hybrid SC cells utilising porous and stable 2D-on-2D core–shell and carbon/pseudocapacitive composite electrodes. Porous Co₃(PO₄)₂ transparent stacked micropetals (TSMs) were synthesised and decorated with Co₂Mo₃O₈ nanosheets (NSs) (Co₃(PO₄)₂@Co₂Mo₃O₈) forming a 2D-on-2D core–shell positive electrode, which was combined with a 2D carbon nanotube/MXene (CNT–Ti₃C₂T_X) composite negative electrode. The core–shell electrode achieved a specific capacity of 184.7 mA h g⁻¹ (738 mF cm⁻²) and cycling stability of 95.6% over 15 000 charge/discharge cycles. The CNT–Ti₃C₂T_X electrode exhibited a remarkable areal capacitance of 187.5 mF cm⁻² and cycling stability of 93.1%. Consequently, the assembled unique hybrid solid-state SCs delivered an exceptional volumetric capacitance of 7.9 F cm⁻³ and a specific energy of 74.06 W h kg⁻¹ (2.47 mW h cm⁻³) at a specific power and cycling stability of 1.13 kW kg⁻¹ and 93.2%, respectively. Overall, the techniques and electrode materials presented in this study can serve as a reference to produce a range of electrode materials for next-generation energy storage devices.