Effect of Different Electrolytes on Supercapacitive Performance of Activated Charcoal/Nafion Doped by Mxene Hybrid Electrode

Herein, activated charcoal/Nafion Mxene composite is demonstrated as an active material for supercapacitors; modified structural amorphous phase to semicrystalline, which is observed by X-ray diffraction. Newly induced OH (3397 cm⁻¹) and CH (2123 cm⁻¹) bonding are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy reveals presence of G and D bands. Microporosity is forseen by electron microscopy technique. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis discloses a decrease in surface area (1017.5 to 686.95 m¹ g⁻¹) due to Mxene loading. Electrochemical conductivity and capacitance performance are tested as a function of aqueous electrolytes (H₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄, KCl-FeCN₆, and KOH). Electrochemical performance is mainly dependent on the electrolyte medium. The desirable H₂SO₄ electrolyte confirms it, and exhibits higher capacitance and conductivity, with lower voltage drop. It is further confirmed by linear fitting (V^2/1 vs i/ V^1/1). It is displayed for capacitance and diffusion contribution mapped by Dunn's model. Electrode with a 10 wt% of Mxene demonstrated the higher capacitance of 429 F g⁻¹ in H₂SO₄ electrolyte with a current density of 0.6 A g⁻¹. This electrode demonstrated a capacitance retention of 93% over 500 cycles may be enable to deploy for the device application.