Design of novel self-assembled MXene and ZIF67 derivative composites as efficient electroactive material of energy storage device

High surface area and tunable pore size are beneficial for metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as electroactive material of energy storage devices. Novel ZIF67 derivative proposed in our previous work, nickel cobalt fluoride coupled with ammonia ions (NCNF), is synthesized using ammonia fluoride to solve poor electrical conductivity of MOFs. MXene is commonly incorporated in pseudo-capacitive materials to enhance electrical conductivity and energy storage ability. In this study, it is the first time to design MXene and NCNF composites (MXene/NCNF) with different MXene amounts via incorporating MXene in growing process of NCNF. MXene and NCNF are combined via self-assembly in a simple room temperature solution process. The optimized MXene/NCNF electrode shows a higher specific capacitance of 1020.0 F g⁻¹ (170.0 mAh g⁻¹) than that of NCNF electrode (574.2 F g⁻¹ and 95.7 mAh g⁻¹) at 20 mV s⁻¹, due to excellent surface properties of MXene/NCNF with conductive network of MXene and high electrocapacitive performance of NCNF. A symmetric energy storage device composed of the optimized MXene/NCNF electrodes presents outstanding cycling stability with Coulombic efficiency of 100% during whole cycling process and a high capacitance retention of 99% after 6000 cycles. Excellent electrochemical performance and simple synthesis of MXene/NCNF open new blueprints for designing novel electrocapacitive materials for electrochemical applications.