Ekaterina Pomerantseva, PhD, associate professor of materials science and engineering, recently published a study on a new method to create better performing battery materials using MXenes, a versatile family of two-dimensional materials. The new research, published in ACS Applied Nano Materials, demonstrates that MXenes can transfer their tunability and properties to other materials, specifically oxides used in
energy storage.
Pomerantseva’s team used solid-solution MXenes containing vanadium and niobium atoms to create a nanocomposite material through a reaction with hydrogen peroxide. The resulting structure features niobium oxide nanospheres tightly embedded in vanadium oxide nanosheets.
This method allows for mixing elements at the atomic scale, resulting in greater electrochemical stability and improved battery performance compared to traditional mixing techniques.
“If you physically mix vanadium and niobium oxides the vanadium and niobium atoms will be much farther apart,” Pomerantseva explained. “And the ability to create tight contact between particles creates much more stability and better, longer lasting battery performance.”
The research, conducted in collaboration with the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute, opens new possibilities for atomic-scale synthesis using MXenes. The findings not only promise advancements in battery technology but also provide a novel pathway for creating materials with enhanced properties. This development could have far-reaching implications for various applications, from energy storage to other fields where MXenes’ unique properties can be leveraged.
