MXene-functionalised 3D-printed electrodes for electrochemical capacitors

3D printing is a manufacturing technique that can be used to produce electrochemical capacitors with customised shapes and minimal material waste. However, the range of carbon-additive filaments currently commercially available is limited, resulting in 3D-printed electrodes with a poor capacitive performance due to their high thermoplastic content. Herein, a novel approach is presented for enhancing the electrochemical properties of 3D-printed electrodes, based on electrochemical activation of the electrodes followed by MXene functionalisation. Archetypal MXene, Ti₃C₂, has been used to modify the 3D-printed electrode surface; it has been demonstrated that it enhances the capacitance of the electrodes almost three-fold. These findings show a new route towards enhancing the performance of 3D-printed electrochemical capacitors and pave the way for further developments leading to other electrochemical applications.