High-performance Bi 2 Se 3 /MXene/SWCNT heterostructures as binder-free anodes in lithium-ion batteries

• Published in: Materials chemistry frontiers 2024-03, Vol.8 (6), p.1651-1664
• Main Authors: Meija, Raimonds, Lazarenko, Vitalijs, Rublova, Yelyzaveta, Felsharuk, Andrei, Andzane, Jana, Gogotsi, Oleksiy, Baginskiy, Ivan, Zahorodna, Veronika, Dutovs, Aleksandrs, Voikiva, Vanda, Lohmus, Rynno, Viksna, Arturs, Erts, Donats
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2052-1537; 2052-1537
• DOI: 10.1039/D3QM01290E

Bi 2 Se 3 , MXenes, and SWCNTs are promising potential alternatives to replace the conventional graphite in the anodes of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and enhance their performance. However, all these materials have drawbacks, such as large volume expansion and Se dissolution (Bi 2 Se 3 ), large irreversible capacity (SWCNTs), and poor specific capacity (MXenes). In this work, a combination of nanostructured Bi 2 Se 3 and MXenes with SWCNTs in Bi 2 Se 3 /MXene/SWCNT heterostructures is used as a novel architecture for binder-free anode material in non-aqueous LIBs. Bi 2 Se 3 /MXene/SWCNT heterostructures with different Bi 2 Se 3  : MXene : SWCNT mass ratios were fabricated by direct physical vapour deposition of Bi 2 Se 3 nanostructures onto MXene/SWCNT networks. Bi 2 Se 3 /MXene/SWCNT heterostructures showed improved electrochemical performance in comparison with the individual components of the heterostructures. This enhancement can be attributed to the high electrode/electrolyte contact area provided by the nanostructured materials, leading to a substantial capacitive contribution to charge storage. In addition, the formation of Se–C bonds on SWCNT surfaces prevented the dissolution of Se. The best performance was shown by Bi 2 Se 3 /MXene/SWCNT heterostructures with the mass ratio of 1 : 1 : 2, which reached capacity of 738 mA h g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 after 100 cycles. Moreover, after 900 cycles at 10.0 A g −1 current density, these heterostructures retained an excellent capacity of 320 mA h g −1 . This performance indicates significant potential for Bi 2 Se 3 /MXenes/SWCNTs heterostructures as binder-free anodes for high-rate-performance lithium-ion batteries.