Fig.2. AFM images of MXene and MXene/AAC 2:1 (a-c) AFM images of MXene; (d-f) AFM images of MXene/AAC 2:1
To further observe the morphology and microstructure of synthetic and MXene and MXene/AAC 2:1, the atomic force microscope (AFM) is employed and shown in Fig.3. (a-f). As shown in Fig.3. (a-c), the pure MXene flakes are curved and folded, evident of their flexible characteristic. The pure MXene shows a densely stacked morphology with the interlayer spacing of 17.4 nm. As shown in Fig.3. (d-f), with the intercalation of AAC, the MXene/AAC 2:1 exhibits much increased thickness due to their loose structure as well as the low density of the porous carbon. The interlayer spacing of MXene/AAC 2:1 is enlarged with a thickness of 109.8 nm, as well as the porosity of AACs which could provide additional and faster diffusion paths for electrolyte ions during rapid charge/discharge processes and enhances the accessibility of MXene flakes to electrolyte ions, resulting in an improved rate property when employed as supercapacitance electrodes.