Preparation and improved electrochemical hydrogen storage performance of hollow porous perovskite-type LaFeO3/Ti3C2Tx nanosheets composites

Abstract

Hollow porous perovskite-type LaFeO₃ nanostructures (LaFeO₃-P) were prepared by using carbon nanospheres as the template and subsequent thermal treatment. The composites of LaFeO₃-P and Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanosheets (LaFeO₃-P/MX) were obtained via ultrasound assisted synthesis strategy. The electrochemical hydrogen storage performance of LaFeO₃-P/MX composite was studied for the first time. It revealed a superior discharge capacity of 603 mAh/g, significantly exceeded both the hollow porous LaFeO₃-P and conventional LaFeO₃ particles. The LaFeO₃-P/MX electrode simultaneously demonstrated enhanced HRD, corrosion resistance, and reaction kinetics. This improvement stemmed from the distinctive well-designed porous structure of LaFeO₃-P formed by the thermal decomposition of carbon nanospheres template, which could provide abundant accessible active sites for hydrogen adsorption and storage. The Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanosheets primarily functioned by enhancing both electronic conductivity and electrochemically active surface area while enabling efficient charge transfer throughout charge/discharge cycles. This coupling with LaFeO₃-P nanoparticles created favorable hydrogen diffusion pathways and significantly accelerated reaction kinetics, ultimately improving the overall hydrogen storage properties.