Ag/Yb₂O₃@Ti₃C₂nanocomposites as high-performance catalysts for energy storage and photocatalytic dye degradation

Owing to rapid population and industrial growth in recent decades, the primary challenges are water pollution and the increasing energy demand. These issues can be addressed through sustainable energy production, including conversion and storage, as well as the elimination of pollutants from wastewater. Two effective methods for achieving this are supercapacitors and photocatalysis. Rare earth metal oxides exhibit potential as anode materials for both supercapacitors and photocatalysis. In this study, nanocomposites of silver nanoparticle/yttrium oxide with titanium carbide MXene (Ag/Yb₂O₃@Ti₃C₂) were synthesized using hydrothermal and coprecipitation methods to create a stable and high-performance electrode material for supercapacitors and a catalytic material for photocatalysis. Ag/Yb₂O₃@Ti₃C₂ nanocomposites exhibited nanoscale particle size, high crystallinity, uniform particle distribution, well-defined phase and crystal structures, and distinct oxidation states of Ag, Yb, and Ti. Electrochemical performance testing was conducted using a three-electrode setup, revealing a high specific capacitance of 885.3 F/g for the Ag/Yb₂O₃@Ti₃C₂ nanocomposite at a current density of 1 A/g. The nanocomposite also demonstrated excellent long-term cycling stability, retaining 93 % of its original capacitance after 10,000 GCD cycles, with a coulombic efficiency of 99 %. Moreover, the Ag/Yb₂O₃@Ti₃C₂ nanocomposite exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activity, achieving 97 % degradation of MB dye within 75 min. Furthermore, experiments, including scavenger tests and band gap mechanism studies, were conducted to enhance the understanding of the photocatalytic properties of the catalyst. These findings indicate that Ag/Yb₂O₃@Ti₃C₂ holds promise as a material for environmental remediation and energy storage applications.