Maleimide-Enhanced Conductivity of 2D MoS₂ and WS₂ via Rapid "Click" Reactions Toward High-Performance Supercapacitors

The rising need for efficient energy storage has sparked interest in high-performance supercapacitors. However, their low energy density is a significant drawback. 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) like molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and tungsten disulfide (WS₂) are promising for electrodes due to their adjustable surface chemistry and electronic properties. However, MoS₂ and WS₂ are still facing challenges, including phase instability, limited interlayer accessibility, and poor conductivity in ambient conditions. Here, a rapid and controllable strategy is presented for the covalent functionalization of MoS₂ and WS₂ nanosheets via a "click"-type Michael addition reaction with maleimide derivatives. This approach increases interlayer spacing by more than 1.5 times and enhances electrical conductivity by over threefold, thereby exceptionally improving charge transport and ion diffusion. The functionalized membranes deliver outstanding electrochemical performance, including a volumetric capacitance of up to 164 F cm^-3 and capacitance retention exceeding 92% after 10 000 cycles, which are 30-fold increase when comparing with their pristine counterparts. This work offers a robust platform for engineering high-performance TMD-based electrodes and provides a viable route toward next-generation high-performance flexible energy storage devices. © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH.