Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Ammonium-Ion Supercapacitors Show High Energy Density

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Harbin Engineering University have made a significant discovery in the field of nanotechnology, creating a new composite material that enhances the performance of ammonium-ion supercapacitors. By integrating amorphous MoSx nanoparticles with Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, the team has achieved a high specific capacity of 196.94 mAh·g-1 and impressive cyclic stability, with the assembled symmetric supercapacitor delivering an energy density of 50.08 Wh·kg-1 at 500.81 W·kg-1.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research, funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, and the Ministry of Education, China - 111 Project, aimed to develop suitable electrode materials for non-metallic charge carriers in electrochemical energy storage devices.
  • The amorphous MoSx nanoparticles were grown in situ on the surface of Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, providing a growth environment with a large specific surface area for MoSx.
  • The synergistic effect of heterojunction enhanced the specific capacity of the composite, with an ethylene glycol solvent strategy facilitating the formation of amorphous MoSx nanoparticles.
  • Amorphous MoSx nanoparticles exhibited abundant defects and sulfur vacancies, facilitating rapid NH4+ insertion/de-insertion and promoting hydrogen bond formation.
  • The Ti3C2Tx@MoSx composite showed a high specific capacity of 196.94 mAh·g-1 at 1 A·g-1 and retained 91.01% of its initial specific capacity after 10,000 cycles.
  • The assembled symmetric supercapacitor achieved an energy density of 50.08 Wh·kg-1 at 500.81 W·kg-1 and exhibited satisfactory cyclic stability.

Statistics:

  • 196.94 mAh·g-1: specific capacity of Ti3C2Tx@MoSx composite at 1 A·g-1
  • 91.01%: retention of initial specific capacity after 10,000 cycles
  • 50.08 Wh·kg-1: energy density of assembled symmetric supercapacitor at 500.81 W·kg-1
  • 10,000: number of cycles tested
  • 100 ms: time period for NH4+ insertion/de-insertion

Sources:

  • "Synergistic Integration of Amorphous Mosx Nanoparticles With Ti3c2tx Mxene Layers for High-performance Ammonium-ion Supercapacitors." Journal of Power Sources, 2025;653.
  • NewsRx. Reports from Harbin Engineering University Provide New Insights into Nanoparticles (Synergistic Integration of Amorphous Mosx Nanoparticles With Ti3c2tx Mxene Layers for High-performance Ammonium-ion Supercapacitors). Nanotechnology Weekly. October 20, 2025; p 1409.