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Laser-sculptured ultrathin transition metal carbide layers for energy storage and energy harvesting applications

Author

Listed:
  • Xining Zang

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    University of California Berkley)

  • Cuiying Jian

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Taishan Zhu

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Zheng Fan

    (University of Houston)

  • Wanlin Wang

    (Shenzhen University)

  • Minsong Wei

    (University of California Berkley)

  • Buxuan Li

    (University of California Berkley)

  • Mateo Follmar Diaz

    (Micro and Nanosystems, D-MAVT, ETHZ)

  • Paul Ashby

    (Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab)

  • Zhengmao Lu

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Yao Chu

    (University of California Berkley)

  • Zizhao Wang

    (Harvard University)

  • Xinrui Ding

    (University of California Berkley)

  • Yingxi Xie

    (University of California Berkley)

  • Juhong Chen

    (University of California Berkley)

  • J. Nathan Hohman

    (Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab)

  • Mohan Sanghadasa

    (U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command)

  • Jeffrey C. Grossman

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Liwei Lin

    (University of California Berkley)

Abstract

Ultrathin transition metal carbides with high capacity, high surface area, and high conductivity are a promising family of materials for applications from energy storage to catalysis. However, large-scale, cost-effective, and precursor-free methods to prepare ultrathin carbides are lacking. Here, we demonstrate a direct pattern method to manufacture ultrathin carbides (MoCx, WCx, and CoCx) on versatile substrates using a CO2 laser. The laser-sculptured polycrystalline carbides (macroporous, ~10–20 nm wall thickness, ~10 nm crystallinity) show high energy storage capability, hierarchical porous structure, and higher thermal resilience than MXenes and other laser-ablated carbon materials. A flexible supercapacitor made of MoCx demonstrates a wide temperature range (−50 to 300 °C). Furthermore, the sculptured microstructures endow the carbide network with enhanced visible light absorption, providing high solar energy harvesting efficiency (~72 %) for steam generation. The laser-based, scalable, resilient, and low-cost manufacturing process presents an approach for construction of carbides and their subsequent applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Xining Zang & Cuiying Jian & Taishan Zhu & Zheng Fan & Wanlin Wang & Minsong Wei & Buxuan Li & Mateo Follmar Diaz & Paul Ashby & Zhengmao Lu & Yao Chu & Zizhao Wang & Xinrui Ding & Yingxi Xie & Juhong, 2019. "Laser-sculptured ultrathin transition metal carbide layers for energy storage and energy harvesting applications," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-10999-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10999-z
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