Unraveling the role of MXene (Ti3C2Tx) integrated Cu-doped WO3 nanocomposites via co-precipitation technique for enhanced supercapacitor performance

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 25007 - 26
• Main Authors: Jenila, T. Jaqulin, Infancy, W. Trinisha, Rathikha, R., Vinosha, P. Annie, Ayyar, Manikandan, Ramasamy, S., Maruthasalamoorthy, S., Navamathavan, R., Xavier, Belina, Alhuthali, Abdullah M. S., Abo-Dief, Hala M., Abdellattif, Magda H., Balachandran, R., Hossain, M. Khalid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 11.07.2025; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301; 639/4077; 639/925; Co-precipitation; Copper-doped tungsten oxide (Cu-WO3); Electrochemical performance; Energy storage; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Specific capacitance; Ti3C2Tx MXene; Electrochemical performance; C; T; Ti; MXene; Specific capacitance; ); Copper-doped tungsten oxide (Cu-WO; Co-precipitation; Energy storage
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-10174-z

The rising population and increased energy consumption drive contemporary researchers to develop highly efficient electrode materials for high-power energy storage devices. Herein, copper-doped tungsten oxide (Cu-WO 3 ) and compositing MXene (Cu-WO 3 /MXene) in different concentrations have garnered substantial interest for their usage as an electrode material owing to their impressive energy-storing capacity, including high metallic conductivity, hydrophilic nature, and exceptional electrochemical performance due to their active surface chemistry. In the present work, we employ a facile co-precipitation technique to fabricate WO 3 and Cu-WO 3 (Cu x% = 5 at%, 10 at%, and 15 at%). Furthermore, we synthesized a synergistic 15 at% Cu-WO 3 /MXene nanocomposite by integrating Cu-WO 3 and MXene via sonication. The synthesized sample’s structure, functional, morphology, chemical composition, and electrochemical properties were examined through various techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). The X-ray diffraction analyses corroborated the monoclinic state of WO 3 along with the substitutional inclusion of Cu in the WO 3 lattice integrated with MXene. Utilizing a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), the surface morphological analysis revealed the formation of Cu-WO 3 nanospheres embedded in MXene sheets. Furthermore, according to results obtained from electrochemical analysis profiles, at 1 mA, 15 at% Cu-WO 3 /MXene displayed a greater specific capacitance of 692.4 F/g in comparison to other electrode materials via a three-electrode system, which is due to the synergistic impact of the Cu-WO 3 as well as the conductive properties of MXene sheets. Also, the electrode demonstrated excellent cycling stability, retaining 89% of its initial capacitance over 5000 charge-discharge cycles. The Ragone plot revealed an energy density of 70.10 Wh/kg at a power density of 809.8 W/kg. B-value analysis and scan rate-dependent CV confirmed the contribution of both surface-controlled and diffusion-controlled charge storage mechanisms. Likewise, in contrast to all other synthesized materials, 15 at% Cu-WO 3 /MXene revealed a lesser solution resistance and charge transfer resistance. In accordance with the results, the 15 at% Cu-WO 3 /MXene nanocomposite is an extremely efficient capacitive material that can enhance electrochemical performance in energy storage applications.