Bi/Ti3C2Tx composites: Synthesis and enhanced nonlinear optical and electrochemical properties

The Bi/Ti3C2Tx composites were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Then the Bi/Ti3C2Tx powder was dispersed into methyl methacrylate (MMA) to fabricate the (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)(2-6)/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) organic glasses. The crystalline structure and phase of the Bi/Ti3C2Tx were measured by the X-ray diffraction. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) of the Bi/Ti3C2Tx were measured to prove the enhanced optical and electrical properties. The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)(2-6)/PMMA organic glasses were investigated by the Z-scan technique. The (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)(2-6)/PMMA organic glasses exhibit the reverse saturable absorption (RSA) and self-defocusing effects. Compared to the (Bi)(2)/ PMMA and (Ti3C2Tx)(2)/PMMA organic glasses, the (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)(2-)6/PMMA organic glasses exhibit the enhanced NLO properties. Among three different amount Bi/Ti3C2Tx/PMMA organic glasses, (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)(4)/PMMA organic glass exhibits the strongest RSA and self-defocusing effects with beta(eff) = (6.34 +/- 1.90)x 10(2) cm center dot GW- 1 and gamma = (-3.52 +/- 0.07)x 10(-4) cm(2)center dot GW(- 1). The enhanced RSA and self-defocusing effect of the (Bi/Ti3C2Tx)(2-6)/PMMA organic glasses make them exhibit the excellent optical limiting (OL) performance. In addition, the Bi/Ti3C2Tx composites show excellent electrochemical performance as an electrode material for energy storage systems. The resultant Bi/Ti3C2Tx electrode yields a high specific capacity of 68.5 mAh center dot g(- 1) at a current density of 1 A center dot g(- 1), which is approximately 4.2 and 6.1 times than those of the Bi and Ti3C2Tx electrodes, respectively. The experimental results exhibit the Bi/Ti3C2Tx is highly promising for energy storage and OL devices.