Abstract: Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are now gaining widespread attention because of their cost-effectiveness, intrinsic safety, and high theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, it is still crucial to exploit high-performance electrode materials. Herein, the freestanding 1T MoS₂@Mxene hybrid films (MMHF) were synthesized and directly served as the cathode of AZIBs. The freestanding MMHF exhibited the hierarchical layer structure with excellent conductivity and strong interfacial interaction, which promoted the exposure of more active sites and the transfer of electrons/ions. Consequently, the MMHF displayed a high specific capacity of 270 mAh g^-1 (at 0.1 A g^-1) and good rate performance. Impressively, even after 2500 cycles under 10 A g^-1, the freestanding MMHF cathode contributed a superior specific capacity of 108 mAh g^-1 with an outstanding capacity retention rate of 94.7 %. Meanwhile, the energy storage mechanism of the MMHF electrode was also elucidated through ex-situ characterizations. Furthermore, the density functional theory (DFT) computations revealed the strong interfacial interactions between 1T MoS₂ and MXene, high conductivity, and low Zn²⁺ diffusion barrier. This work provides a new viewpoint for designing freestanding transition metal disulfides (TMDs) -MXene hybrid film electrodes for AZIBs.

Key words: Aqueous zinc ion batteries, Freestanding cathode, Interfacial interaction, 1T MoS₂, MXene