Work

Interface-engineered Bi2Te3-MXene heterostructure for multifunctional energy conversion and storage

Year: 2026

Type: book-chapter

Abstract: Topological insulators (TIs), particularly bismuth telluride (Bi 2 Te 3 ), exhibit exceptional electronic properties but are frequently hindered by low intrinsic conductivity and structural instability in their bulk form. In this work, we report a strategic interface engineering approach to hybridize layered Bi 2 Te 3 nanosheets with conductive Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene, creating a high-performance bifunctional heterostructure. Phase-pure Bi 2 Te 3 was synthesized via a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method and integrated into MXene matrix, which functions as both a conductive scaffold and a structural buffer. Synchrotron-based structural analysis and temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy demonstrate that the MXene interface facilitates significant structural refinement, expanding Van der Waals gaps and reorganizing bond geometries, while effectively passivating the chalcogenide surface against oxidation. The resulting Bi 2 Te 3 /Ti 3 C 2 T x composite exhibits superior electrocatalytic activities, delivering a low overpotential of 260 mV at 100 mA·cm − 2 for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), 490 mV at 100 mA·cm − 2 for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and an onset potential of 0.81 V for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), significantly outperforming pristine Bi 2 Te 3 . Mechanistic study probes indicate HER proceeds predominantly at Bi sites enabled by partial Bi-O surface termination while MXene supplies rapid electron conduction and defect sinks that stabilize catalytic centers. These results suggest that engineered 2D/2D heterojunctions provide a versatile platform for optimizing charge transport and ion kinetics in next-generation energy conversion and storage systems.

Source: Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials

DOI: 10.1007/s42114-026-02072-3