MXene-derived TiO2/reduced graphene oxide composite with an enhanced capacitive capacity for Li-ion and K-ion batteries

Li-ion and K-ion batteries present their unique advantages of high energy density and low cost, respectively. It is a challenge to explore a universal anode with efficient electrochemical performance. Herein, a two-dimensional TiO2/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composite was prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. TiO2 nanoparticles are transformed from Ti2C MXene and connect the RGO nanosheets to form a sheet-like structure. Serving as the anode material, the TiO2/RGO presents high capacity, remarkable rate ability and long cycling performance for both Li- and K-ion batteries. The superior electrochemical performance is attributed to the short ion diffusion path due to the small particle size (15-25 nm) and the highway for electron transport provided by RGO. In addition, RGO motivates the capacitive contribution, resulting in enhanced capacity and better rate performance. Meanwhile, the electrochemical kinetics of Li/K-ion storage was investigated by quantitative kinetics analysis. This work demonstrates a possibility to introduce the capacitive capacity to realize rapid ion storage and improve the cycling stability, providing a new strategy to design efficient electrodes for metal-ion batteries.