Evaluation of perspectives for the synthesis of Ti3AlC2 in Kazakhstan for supercapacitor application

Abstract

With the increasing demand for energy-efficient technologies, there is a growing focus on developing new materials for supercapacitors and other energy devices. MXene Ti₃C₂T_x is known for its unique electrochemical properties and has garnered significant interest in such applications. However, the high cost of synthesizing MXene limits its commercial viability, prompting research into cost-effective methods for synthesizing the MXene precursor, the Ti₃AlC₃ MAX phase. This paper presents a method for synthesizing the MAX-phase Ti₃AlC₂ using local raw materials from Kazakhstan Electrolysis Plant JSC and Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium-Magnesium Plant JSC. Utilizing local resources significantly reduces production costs. The study investigates the impact of temperature conditions and excess aluminum content on MAX phase formation. Process optimization, including pressing the precursors and coating them with a layer of aluminum oxide, resulted in a Ti₃AlC₂ content of 91.2%. MXene Ti₃C₂T_x derived from the synthesized MAX phase demonstrated electrochemical performance comparable to materials prepared from commercially available MAX phases. An economic assessment revealed that the cost of synthesizing 1 gram of Ti₃AlC₂ from local precursors is $0.22, more than 19 times lower than similar commercial materials. These findings confirm the cost-effectiveness and competitiveness of the proposed approach, highlighting its potential to create high-performance materials suitable for advanced batteries, supercapacitors, and other energy devices.