Synergistic of MOF-5/WSe2@g-C3N4 enhancing structural and electronic properties for superior hydrogen evolution reaction performance and electrochemical stability in advanced energy storage

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), known for their physicochemical properties, have recently emerged as promising electrode materials for energy storage applications. Conversely, metal-organic frameworks (MOF-5) represent a leading prospect for enhancing future energy storage systems and HER due to high porosity, different functional groups, and potential as templates. MOF-5 is a metal-organic framework characterized by its high surface area, porosity, and structural tunability, ideal for accommodating electrolyte ions and enhancing charge storage capacity in energy storage devices. WSe₂, a layered transition metal dichalcogenide, has electrical conductivity and catalytic properties, efficient charge transfer, and improved electrochemical reaction kinetics, especially in HER applications. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) is a chemically stable 2D polymeric semiconductor known for its intrinsic redox activity and ability to promote ion and electron transport while enhancing the structural stability of composite materials. The present research successfully supercapattery electrode composed of MOF-5, crystalline tungsten diselenide (WSe₂), and doped with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄). At current density (J_d) of 1 A/g, MOF-5/WSe₂@g-C₃N₄//AC (supercapattery) electrodes indicated a specific capacity (Q_s) of 320 C/g. The electrode's cyclic stability, achieving capacity retention of 78.6 % and coulombic efficiency of 92.4 % at 12,000 cycles, indicates the composite's long-term viability and significant potential as an electrode. The capacitive performance of this device was evaluated by MOF-5/WSe₂@g-C₃N₄ as the cathode and activated carbon (AC) as an anode, with 1 M KOH electrolytes. The supercapattery's superior electrochemical performance, achieving energy density (E_d) of 70.1 Wh/kg and power density (P_d) of 1600 W/kg. MOF-5/WSe₂@g-C₃N₄ demonstrated a Tafel slope and overpotential of 72.7 mV/dec and 86.43 mV. The MOF-5/WSe₂@g-C₃N₄ modified electrode, presenting electrochemical performance, is estimated to advance dependable and efficient energy storage systems. Current research explores the potential of MOF-5/WSe₂@g-C₃N₄ an electrode material for supercapattery performance.