MoWS2@SnO2 nanocomposite as a multifunctional electrode material for hybrid supercapacitors and non-enzymatic ascorbic acid sensing.

Abstract

Next-generation sustainable technologies have turned to the development of multifunctional electrode materials capable of simultaneously delivering high and fast energy density, and sensitive electrochemical detection with long-term durability. Herein, we have reported a rationally engineered MoWS2@SnO2 heterostructure designed to synergistically enhance electrochemical energy storage and sensing performance. The composite integrates layered MoWS2 nanosheets with uniformly distributed SnO2 nanograins, forming a hierarchically porous architecture with abundant electroactive sites and strong interfacial coupling. Structural analysis confirms the successful formation of an integrated heterointerface that promotes fast electron transport and efficient ion diffusion. When assembled into an asymmetric MoWS2@SnO2//AC device, it delivers a high specific capacity of 298 C g-1. The device achieves a maximum energy density of 65.77 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 1380 W kg-1, demonstrating balanced energy-power characteristics. Kinetic analysis reveals mixed charge storage behavior, with diffusion-controlled contributions dominating at lower scan rates and capacitive processes contributing up to 87% at higher scan rates, confirming rapid surface-controlled kinetics. The device further exhibits excellent cycling stability, retaining 95% of its initial capacity with 93% coulombic efficiency after 5000 charge-discharge cycles. Beyond energy storage, the MoWS2@SnO2 electrode demonstrates high-performance non-enzymatic sensing of ascorbic acid, achieving a LOR of 1-300 µM, sensitivity of 3.822 µA µM-1, a low detection limit (LOD) of 1.3 µM, a rapid response time (3.34 s), and excellent selectivity against interfering species. Also, the reliable recoveries in real food samples, including orange guava, carrot, tomato, and Spanish, validate its practical applicability. This study highlights the effectiveness of heterointerface engineering in simultaneously optimizing energy storage and electrochemical sensing, offering a promising pathway toward multifunctional materials for integrated energy and analytical applications.

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