Printable MXene/Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposite Ink for Conductive Paper Electronics

In this work, a ternary Ag/PANI/MXene nanocomposite electrode was developed to enhance the electrochemical performance of MXene-based supercapacitors. The composite was synthesized through in situ oxidative polymerization of polyaniline on exfoliated MXene sheets followed by chemical reduction-assisted deposition of silver nanoparticles. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the successful integration of PANI and uniform distribution of Ag nanoparticles within the MXene matrix. Electrochemical evaluation in 1 M H₂SO₄ electrolyte demonstrated a significant improvement in capacitive behavior compared to pristine MXene and PANI/MXene electrodes. The Ag/PANI/MXene electrode delivered a high specific capacitance of 453.24 Fg⁻¹ at 5 mV s⁻¹ and 387.49 Fg⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹. A maximum energy density of 77.49 Wkg⁻¹ was achieved, along with a highest power density of 2,999.95 W kg⁻¹. Additionally, the electrode exhibited excellent cycling stability, retaining 91.11% of its initial capacitance after 5000 charge discharge cycles. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic interaction between conductive MXene layers, pseudocapacitive PANI, and Ag nanoparticles, which improves charge transport and structural stability, highlighting the potential of this ternary nanocomposite for advanced supercapacitor applications.