Nanocellulose-Linked MXene/Polyaniline Aerogel Films for Flexible Supercapacitors

Abstract

In the development of energy supply systems for smart wearable devices, supercapacitors stand out owing to their ability of quick and efficient energy supply. However, their application is limited due to their low energy density and poor mechanical energy. Herein, a strategy for the preparation of flexible supercapacitors is reported, which is based on the fabrication of aerogel films by simultaneously utilising cellulose nanofiber (CNFs) as an MXene intercalation material and polyaniline (PANI) as a template material. CNFs, which can form hydrogen-bonded networks, enhance the mechanical properties of MXene from 44.25 to 119.56 MPa, and the high electron transport properties of PANI endow MXene with a capacitance of 327 F g−1 and a resistance of 0.23 Ω. Furthermore, the combination of CNFs and PANI enables a 71.6% capacitance retention after 3000 charge/discharge and 500 folding cycles. This work provides a new platform for the development of flexible supercapacitors.