Synergistic MXene/TiN Nanocomposite as a Noble Metal Free Catalyst for Efficient Methanol Electro-Oxidation in Alkaline Fuel Cells

Abstract

The first-time synthesis of a noble-metal-free Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/titanium nitride (TiN) composite electrocatalyst with exceptional performance for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) is reported in this study. The composite is synthesized via a two-step strategy combining hydrothermal treatment and subsequent nitridation, resulting in a well-integrated heterostructure with enhanced conductivity and active surface area. Structural analyses confirm the successful formation and uniform elemental distribution of the layered MXene/TiN hybrid. Electrochemical measurements reveal a remarkable peak current density of 375.5 mA cm⁻² and a maximum power density of \∼48 mW cm⁻², significantly outperforming pristine TiN (\∼22 mW cm⁻²) and MXene (\∼13 mW cm⁻²). This enhancement is attributed to the synergistic interaction between the highly conductive 2D MXene sheets and catalytically active TiN nanoparticles, which together promote efficient charge transfer and accelerate MOR kinetics. Compared to previously reported MXene- or TiN-based catalysts, this binary system demonstrates superior integration, higher power output, and greater long-term stability-without reliance on noble metals. These findings highlight the potential of MXene/TiN composites as scalable, cost-effective electrocatalysts for next-generation sustainable fuel cell technologies.