Advancements in Rechargeable Battery Technology Through Laser-Enhanced MXene Electrodes

Scientists at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) have made considerable progress in the area of renewable energy storage by employing laser pulses to optimize the properties of an electrode material known as MXene. The conventional MXene material tends to degrade in performance over extended periods, primarily because of the occurrence of molybdenum oxide. Nonetheless, the incorporation of laser-fabricated nanodots into the MXene structure led to a significant improvement in lithium-ion storage and accelerated charging rates. During evaluations, the modified material displayed a four-fold increase in storage capacity, comparable to graphite, with no discernable reduction in capacity.

The utilization of laser pulses for the modification of MXene’s electrode characteristics presents a prospective breakthrough in rechargeable battery technologies, potentially outperforming standard lithium-ion batteries.

In the context of a global transition toward renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind, the need for high-performance rechargeable batteries is growing increasingly urgent. These storage solutions are indispensable for harnessing energy from fluctuating renewable resources. While existing lithium-ion batteries are efficient, they are far from optimized. The innovation of new electrode materials could significantly enhance their efficiency.

Zahra Bayhan is at the forefront of research focused on batteries that incorporate MXenes, which could serve as a viable alternative to graphite in certain batteries due to its superior conductivity. Credit: © 2023 KAUST; Anastasia Serin

MXene: An Electrode Material with High Potential

KAUST researchers have demonstrated that laser pulses can effectively alter the structure of MXene, thereby enhancing its energy storage capabilities and other critical attributes. They envision this technique could contribute to the creation of improved anode materials in future battery technologies.

Unlike graphite, which consists of flat carbon atom layers, MXenes contain layers made from transition metals like titanium or molybdenum, bonded to either carbon or nitrogen atoms. These transition metals make MXenes highly conductive. The layers of the material also include additional atoms like oxygen or fluorine. MXenes made from molybdenum carbide show excellent lithium storage ability, but their performance declines due to repeated charging and discharging.

Addressing the Challenge of Performance Decline

The research team, headed by Husam N. Alshareef and doctoral student Zahra Bayhan, identified that the performance degradation is triggered by a chemical transformation, leading to the formation of molybdenum oxide within the MXene structure.

To counter this issue, infrared laser pulses were deployed to form minute molybdenum carbide “nanodots” within the MXene layers, a technique referred to as laser scribing. These nanodots, roughly 10 nanometers in width, were interconnected with the MXene layers via carbon-based materials.

This intervention offers multiple advantages. Firstly, the nanodots augment the lithium storage capacity and quicken the charging and discharging cycles. The laser treatment also diminishes the material’s oxygen content, thereby mitigating the creation of detrimental molybdenum oxide. Lastly, robust connections between the nanodots and MXene layers enhance the material’s overall conductivity and stabilize its structure during energy cycling. “This is a time-efficient and cost-effective method to optimize battery performance,” states Bayhan.

Implications and Future Directions

When subjected to tests in a lithium-ion battery across 1,000 charge-discharge cycles, the laser-scribed anode material displayed a four-fold amplification in electrical storage capacity relative to its unmodified counterpart, almost attaining the theoretical peak capacity of graphite. Importantly, this modified material maintained its full capacity throughout the testing process.

The researchers posit that the laser scribing technique could be universally applied to enhance the properties of other MXenes, paving the way for the development of the next generation of rechargeable batteries that may rely on metals more abundant and less expensive than lithium. “MXenes have the additional capability of intercalating ions like sodium and potassium,” notes Alshareef.

Reference: “A Laser-Induced Mo2CTx MXene Hybrid Anode for High-Performance Li-Ion Batteries” by Zahra Bayhan, Jehad K. El-Demellawi, Jian Yin, Yusuf Khan, Yongjiu Lei, Eman Alhajji, Qingxiao Wang, Mohamed N. Hedhili, and Husam N. Alshareef, published on May 14, 2023, in the journal Small.
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202208253

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about laser-enhanced MXene

More about laser-enhanced MXene

• KAUST Research on Advanced Materials
• Introduction to MXene Materials
• Challenges and Opportunities in Rechargeable Batteries
• Lithium-ion Batteries: Current Technologies and Future Trends
• Small Journal
• Renewable Energy Storage Technologies
• Laser Techniques in Material Science