Effects of etching temperature and ball milling on the preparation and capacitance of Ti3C2 MXene

Two-dimensional Ti3C2 MXene is prepared by a combination of ball milling and HF etching of Ti3AlC2 powder. Effects of etching temperature and ball milling duration on the preparation and electrochemical performance of as-prepared Ti3C2 MXene are investigated in detail. It is found that higher etching temperature and longer ball milling duration lead to faster transformation from Ti3AlC2 to Ti3C2 MXene. The ball milling treatment can improve the capacitive of Ti3C2 MXene. This improvement in the performance is attributed to higher carbon content for better conductivity and faster transportation of electrons, and the larger surface area for more access of aqueous electrolyte to the electrode.