Auto-programmed heteroarchitecturing: Self-assembling ordered mesoporous carbon between two-dimensional Ti₃C₂T_x MXene layers

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted significant research interests for energy-storage applications owing to their unique structural and electronic properties. The modification of 2D materials with ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) offers great opportunities for increasing the ion-accessible surface area and improving the ion diffusion. Herein, we report an unprecedented type of heterostructured MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x)/nitrogen-doped OMC (NOMC) hybrid, which is prepared via the self-assembly of melamine resol-P123 micelles with exfoliated Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets. The NOMC exhibits well-ordered mesopores which are aligned with Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheet surface. This novel structure not only prevents the stacking of MXene nanosheets, but also provides a fast ion-diffusion path. When used as an electrode material for supercapacitors, the Ti₃C₂T_x-NOMC hybrid exhibits a high gravimetric capacitance of 329 F g⁻¹ and a volumetric capacitance of 823 F cm⁻³. Furthermore, the Ti₃C₂T_x-NOMC composite also displays excellent rate capability and good cycling stability, thus highlighting the benefit of hybridizing MXene with ordered mesoporous carbon for for enhancing the energy storage performance.