Improved lithium ion storage capacity of Ti2SnC via in-situ formation of SnO2

MAX phase materials, the precursors of MXenes (2D transition metal carbides, carbon nitrides, and nitrides), have become increasingly popular in electrochemical applications. In this study, we have successfully prepared Ti2SnC with high lithium capacity via the in-situ formation of SnO2. Results show that there are TiC nanowhiskers and SnO2 inside the Ti2SnC MAX calcined at 800 ℃, and the initial specific capacity could reach 377 and 371 mAh·g−1 at high current densities of 400 mA·g−1 and 1.0 A·g−1, respectively. These values are higher than those of most MAX phase materials reported in previous studies, such as Ti3SiC2 and Nb2SnC, but the stability and rate performance are inferior, which is a direction for the future. This paper provides a new pathway for the application of MAX phases in electrochemistry, which has more in-depth application prospects.