Etched Ti₃AlC₂ via microwave and stirring methods for supercapacitor electrodes

Etched Ti₃AlC₂ via microwave and stirring methods for supercapacitor electrodes

Artiqah KHAIRUDIN, Siti Azlieza AYUB, Fatin Saiha OMAR, Nurul Hazierah KAMARUDDIN

Abstract. Efficient etching of Ti₃AlC₂ into MXene is vital for enhancing its electrochemical performance in supercapacitor applications. Ti3AlC2 was successfully etched using two etching approaches: stirring (ST) and microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MH). Structural and morphological analyses, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), RAMAN spectra, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), confirmed the removal of Al layers, formation of surface terminations, and the development of the prominent layered structure. Through electrochemical analysis, Ti3AlC2 etched using the MH method delivered a higher specific capacity of 341 Cg-1 at 0.8 Ag-1 than its counterpart, attributed to its high conductivity and enlarged interlayer spacing. In contrast, the ST method exhibited poor performance due to uneven heating distribution, which reduced the etching efficiency even after a prolonged etching time, while also promoting oxidation. Overall, this work highlights the MH method as a rapid and sustainable alternative for Ti3AlC2 etching, offering new opportunities for the development of energy storage systems, including supercapacitors for electric vehicles and wearable electronics.

Keywords
Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal, MXene, Stirring, Supercapacitor

Published online 6/20/2026, 9 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA

Citation: Artiqah KHAIRUDIN, Siti Azlieza AYUB, Fatin Saiha OMAR, Nurul Hazierah KAMARUDDIN, Etched Ti₃AlC₂ via microwave and stirring methods for supercapacitor electrodes, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 67, pp 76-84, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904176-11

The article was published as article 11 of the book Climate Action and Sustainability

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

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