Sn Nanostructures Enfolded Nanocarbon Grafted on V ₂ C MXene Anode for Lithium‐Ion Storage

Since this is the gold‐rush period of MXene, researchers are also searching for “the better electrode” for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) in the realm of MXene. Many MXenes had showed remarkable Li‐ion storage capabilities. On paper, V 2 C is an attractive candidate for energy storage but possess numerous experimental challenges. Meanwhile, Sn is always stayed in hindsight as one of the alternate anode materials for LIBs, but it suffers from severe volume expansion. Here, in a modified approach, a composite structure of Sn nanoparticle‐encapsulated nanocarbons grafted on to V 2 C sheets (Sn/C–V 2 C) was designed for Li‐ion storage. This approach simultaneously aimed to overcome the structural limitations of V 2 C MXene and Sn nanoparticles during lithium‐ion storage. The composite showed better Li‐ion storage benefiting from the improved conductivity, structural stability during lithiation/delithiation, enhanced Li active sites, and new Li‐ion pathways. The Sn/C–V 2 C delivered reversible capacity of 553 mA h g −1 at 0.1 C. It also exhibited superior rate performance and cyclability of 91% after 500 cycles than both Sn‐encapsulated nanocarbon and V 2 C MXene. The promising results presented in this study can be used to further improve the use of Sn in V 2 C‐based systems for future LIB anodes.