Bi/Ti3C2Tx composites: Synthesis and enhanced nonlinear optical and electrochemical properties

The Bi/Ti3C2Tx composites were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Then the Bi/Ti3C2Tx powder was dispersed into methyl methacrylate (MMA) to fabricate the (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)2–6/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) organic glasses. The crystalline structure and phase of the Bi/Ti3C2Tx were measured by the X-ray diffraction. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) of the Bi/Ti3C2Tx were measured to prove the enhanced optical and electrical properties. The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)2–6/PMMA organic glasses were investigated by the Z-scan technique. The (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)2–6/PMMA organic glasses exhibit the reverse saturable absorption (RSA) and self-defocusing effects. Compared to the (Bi)2/PMMA and (Ti3C2Tx)2/PMMA organic glasses, the (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)2–6/PMMA organic glasses exhibit the enhanced NLO properties. Among three different amount Bi/Ti3C2Tx/PMMA organic glasses, (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)4/PMMA organic glass exhibits the strongest RSA and self-defocusing effects with βeff = (6.34 ± 1.90)× 102 cm·GW−1 and γ = (–3.52 ± 0.07)× 10−4 cm2·GW−1. The enhanced RSA and self-defocusing effect of the (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)2–6/PMMA organic glasses make them exhibit the excellent optical limiting (OL) performance. In addition, the Bi/Ti3C2Tx composites show excellent electrochemical performance as an electrode material for energy storage systems. The resultant Bi/Ti3C2Tx electrode yields a high specific capacity of 68.5 mAh·g−1 at a current density of 1 A·g−1, which is approximately 4.2 and 6.1 times than those of the Bi and Ti3C2Tx electrodes, respectively. The experimental results exhibit the Bi/Ti3C2Tx is highly promising for energy storage and OL devices.