Bone-inspired MXene nano aerogels toward self-electricity generation and capacitive energy storage

Abstract

The exceptional potential of MXene aerogels for practical applications is impeded by the energy-intensive processing and insufficient mechanical stability. Inspired by natural bones, herein, we report the MXene@regenerated nanocellulose aerogel (MRCA) with strong mechanical performance via dual aerogel fabrication to achieve high-performance energy generation and storage. The MRCA achieves a gravimetric capacitance of 1271.16 F g⁻¹ at 2 mA cm⁻², and the energy density of the eco-friendly symmetrical MRCA-based solid-state supercapacitor reaches 0.11 mWh cm⁻², positioning it as a top contender among most state-of-the-art MXene-based electrodes. Additionally, the MRCA exhibits a robust specific tensile strength of 68.35 MPa cm³ g⁻¹, resembling bone-like resilience. Therefore, MRCA can swiftly generate an open-circuit voltage of 181.24 V. The instant high voltage of MRCA transforms into diverse signals, driving MRCA-SC to release energy for electric devices in practical scenarios, paving the way for future sustainable power systems.