Leveraging the Heterostructure-Driven Synergy in Lychee-Like Ni–Mn Telluride Amalgamated with Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i> MXene for Binder-Free All-Solid-State Hybrid Supercapacitors

The incorporation of a stratified structure for electrode fabrication proffers an advanced solution to stimulate the energy density of supercapacitors while maintaining the power density. The provision of interface engineering in heterostructure electrode constitutes a highly effective strategy for tuning their corresponding physical and chemical characteristics, which augments the storage capacity. Thus, this study reports the fabrication of a Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i> MXene and nickel manganese telluride (NMTe)-based composite, synthesized through an acid etching followed by a straightforward one-step <i>in situ</i> hydrothermal process, encompassing lychee-like NMTe into a multilayered Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i>. Remarkably, the binder-free NMTe@Ti₃C₂Tx electrode surpasses the performance of its individual counterparts, i.e., NMTe and Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i>, benefiting from the synergistic interplay between the two constituents and a distinctive architectural framework that optimizes electrode-electrolyte interaction. The composite effectually remediated the self-restacking of multilayered MXene and the conglomeration of NMTe particles. The battery-type NMTe@Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i> electrode exhibited an exceptional specific capacitance of 2139.1 F g^-1 at a current density of 1 A g^-1 with cyclic stability of 96.5% for over 10,000 cycles with trivial alteration in surface morphology. Mechanistically, an in-depth examination unveiled a more nuanced understanding of interfacial charge flux modulation and electronic state reconfiguration in the charge storage mechanism. Further, two separate devices were fabricated in symmetric and asymmetric configurations utilizing the binder-free NMTe@Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i> electrodes. Prodigiously, the asymmetric device unveiled a larger potential window of 1.6 V and an outstanding energy density of 114.2 Wh kg^-1 at a power density of 756.8 W kg^-1. Thus, the present research bestows a stepping stone for the broader integration of telluride and MXene-based composite into energy storage technologies.