Multifunctional Molecule‐Grafted V<sub>2</sub>C MXene as High‐Kinetics Potassium‐Ion‐Intercalation Anodes for Dual‐Ion Energy Storage Devices
Davood Sabaghi, Josef Polčák, Hyejung Yang, Xiaodong Li, Ahiud Morag, Dongqi Li, Ali Shaygan Nia, Saman Khosravi H, Tomáš Šikola, Xinliang Feng, Minghao Yu
Abstract
Abstract Constructing dual‐ion energy storage devices using anion‐intercalation graphite cathodes offers the unique opportunity to simultaneously achieve high energy density and output power density. However, a critical challenge remains in the lack of proper anodes that match with graphite cathodes, particularly in sustainable electrolyte systems using abundant potassium. Here, a surface grafting approach utilizing multifunctional azobenzene sulfonic acid is reported, which transforms V 2 C MXene into a high‐kinetics K + ‐intercalation anode (denoted ASA‐V 2 C) for dual‐ion energy storage devices. Importantly, the grafted azobenzene sulfonic acid offers extra K + ‐storage centers and fast K + ‐hopping sites, while concurrently acting as a buffer between V 2 C layers to mitigate the structural distortion during K + intercalation/de‐intercalation. These functionalities enable the V 2 C electrode with significantly enhanced specific capacity (173.9 mAh g −1 vs 121.5 mAh g −1 at 0.05 A g −1 ), rate capability (43.1% vs 12.0% at 20 A g −1 ), and cycling stability (80.3% vs 45.2% after 900 cycles at 0.05 A g −1 ). When coupled with an anion‐intercalation graphite cathode, the ASA‐V 2 C anode demonstrates its potential in a dual‐ion energy storage device. Notably, the device depicts a maximum energy density of 175 Wh kg −1 and a supercapacitor‐comparable power density of 6.5 kW kg −1 , outperforming recently reported Li + ‐, Na + ‐, and K + ‐based dual‐ion devices.