Sodium hydroxide and vacuum annealing modifications of the surface terminations of a Ti3C2(MXene) epitaxial thin film

A mechanically robust spiral fiber with ionic-electronic coupling for multimodal energy harvesting

Wearable electronics are some of the most promising technologies with the potential to transform many aspects of human life such as smart healthcare and intelligent communication. The design of self-powered fabrics with the ability to efficiently harvest energy from the ambient environment would not only be beneficial for their integration with textiles, but would also reduce the environmental impact of wearable technologies by eliminating their need for disposable batteries. Herein, inspired by classical Archimedean spirals, we report a metastructured fiber fabricated by scrolling followed by cold drawing of a bilayer thin film of an MXene and a solid polymer electrolyte. The obtained composite fibers with a typical spiral metastructure (SMFs) exhibit high efficiency for dispersing external stress, resulting in simultaneously high specific mechanical strength and toughness. Furthermore, the alternating layers of the MXene and polymer electrolyte form a unique, tandem ionic-electronic coupling device, enabling SMFs to generate electricity from diverse environmental parameters, such as mechanical vibrations, moisture gradients, and temperature differences. This work presents a design rule for assembling planar architectures into robust fibrous metastructures, and introduces the concept of ionic-electronic coupling fibers for efficient multimodal energy harvesting, which have great potential in the field of self-powered wearable electronics.

2D MXene-Based Nanoscale Materials for Electrochemical Sensing Toward the Detection of Hazardous Pollutants: A Perspective

MXenes (Mn+1XnTx), a subgroup of 2-dimensional (2D) materials, specifically comprise transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides. They exhibit exceptional electrocatalytic and photocatalytic properties, making them well-suited for the detection and removal of pollutants from aqueous environments. Because of their high surface area and remarkable properties, they are being utilized in various applications, including catalysis, sensing, and adsorption, to combat pollution and mitigate its adverse effects. Different characterization techniques like XRD, SEM, TEM, UV-Visible spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy have been used for the structural elucidation of 2D MXene. Current responses against applied potential were measured during the electrochemical sensing of the hazardous pollutants in an aqueous system using a variety of electroanalytical techniques, including differential pulse voltammetry, amperometry, square wave anodic stripping voltammetry, etc. In this review, a comprehensive discussion on structural patterns, synthesis, properties of MXene and their application for electrochemical detection of lethal pollutants like hydroquionone, phenol, catechol, mercury and lead, etc. are presented. This review will be helpful to critically understand the methods of synthesis and application of MXenes for the removal of environmental pollutants.

Monitoring Ti3C2Tx MXene Degradation Pathways Using Raman Spectroscopy

Extending applications of Ti3C2Tx MXene in nanocomposites and across fields of electronics, energy storage, energy conversion, and sensor technologies necessitates simple and efficient analytical methods. Raman spectroscopy is a critical tool for assessing MXene composites; however, high laser powers and temperatures can lead to the materials' deterioration during the analysis. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of MXene photothermal degradation and changes in its oxidation state is required, but no systematic studies have been reported. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the degradation of the MXene lattice through Raman spectroscopic analysis. Distinct spectral markers were related to structural alterations within the Ti3C2Tx material after subjecting it to thermal- and laser-induced degradation. During the degradation processes, spectral markers were revealed for several specific steps: a decrease in the number of interlayer water molecules, a decrease in the number of -OH groups, formation of C-C bonds, oxidation of the lattice, and formation of TiO2 nanoparticles (first anatase, followed by rutile). By tracking of position shifts and intensity changes for Ti3C2Tx, the spectral markers that signify the initiation of each step were found. This spectroscopic approach enhances our understanding of the degradation pathways of MXene, and facilitating enhanced and dependable integration of these materials into devices for diverse applications, from energy storage to sensors.

Optimization of electrochemical regeneration of intercalated MXene for the adsorptive removal of ciprofloxacin: Prospective mechanism

2D-Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets intercalated with sodium ions (SI-Ti3C2Tx) were synthesized and utilized in simultaneous adsorption and electrochemical regeneration with ciprofloxacin (CPX). The primary focus of this study is to investigate the long-term stability of SI-Ti3C2Tx MXene and to propose the underlying regeneration mechanisms. The successful synthesis of Ti3AlC2, Ti3C2Tx MXene, and SI-Ti3C2Tx MXene was confirmed using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Electrochemical regeneration parameters such as charge passed, regeneration time, current density, and electrolyte composition were optimized with values of 787.5 C g-1, 7.5 min, 10 mA cm-2, and 2.5w/v% sodium chloride, respectively, enabling the complete regeneration of the SI-Ti3C2Tx MXene. In addition, the electrochemical regeneration significantly enhanced CPX removal from the SI-Ti3C2Tx MXene owing to partial amorphization, disorderliness, increased functional groups, delamination, and defect creation in the structure. Thus, the synthesized nano-adsorbent has proven helpful in practical water treatment with optimized electrochemical regeneration processes.

Large-scale production of MXenes as nanoknives for antibacterial application

Antimicrobial resistance of existing antibacterial agents has become a pressing issue for human health and demands effective antimicrobials beyond conventional antibacterial mechanisms. Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have attracted considerable interest for this purpose. However, obtaining a high yield of 2D nanomaterials with a designed morphology for effective antibacterial activity remains exceptionally challenging. In this study, an efficient one-step mechanical exfoliation (ECO-ME) method has been developed for rapidly preparing Ti3C2 MXenes with a concentration of up to 30 mg mL-1. This synthetic pathway involving mechanical force endows E-Ti3C2 MXene prepared by the ECO-ME method with numerous irregular sharp edges, resulting in a unique nanoknife effect that can successfully disrupt the bacterial cell wall, demonstrating better antibacterial activity than the MXenes prepared by conventional wet chemical etching methods. Overall, this study provides a simple and effective method for preparing MXenes on a large scale, and its antibacterial effects demonstrate great potential for E-Ti3C2 in environmental and biomedical applications.

Recovery of oxidized two-dimensional MXenes through high frequency nanoscale electromechanical vibration

MXenes hold immense potential given their superior electrical properties. The practical adoption of these promising materials is, however, severely constrained by their oxidative susceptibility, leading to significant performance deterioration and lifespan limitations. Attempts to preserve MXenes have been limited, and it has not been possible thus far to reverse the material's performance. In this work, we show that subjecting oxidized micron or nanometer thickness dry MXene films-even those constructed from nanometer-order solution-dispersed oxidized flakes-to just one minute of 10 MHz nanoscale electromechanical vibration leads to considerable removal of its surface oxide layer, whilst preserving its structure and characteristics. Importantly, electrochemical performance is recovered close to that of their original state: the pseudocapacitance, which decreased by almost 50% due to its oxidation, reverses to approximately 98% of its original value, with good capacitance retention ( ≈ 93%) following 10,000 charge-discharge cycles at 10 A g^-1. These promising results allude to the exciting possibility for rejuvenating the material for reuse, therefore offering a more economical and sustainable route that improves its potential for practical translation.

2D carbon materials based photoelectrochemical biosensors for detection of cancer antigens

Cancer is a leading cause of death globally and early diagnosis is of paramount importance for identifying appropriate treatment pathways to improve cancer patient survival. However, conventional methods for cancer detection such as biopsy, CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopy, X-ray and ultrasound are limited and not efficient for early cancer detection. Advancements in molecular technology have enabled the identification of various cancer biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of the deadly disease. The detection of these biomarkers can be done by biosensors. Biosensors are less time consuming compared to conventional methods and has the potential to detect cancer at an earlier stage. Compared to conventional biosensors, photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensors have improved selectivity and sensitivity and is a suitable tool for detecting cancer agents. Recently, 2D carbon materials have gained interest as a PEC sensing platform due to their high surface area and ease of surface modifications for improved electrical transfer and attachment of biorecognition elements. This review will focus on the development of 2D carbon nanomaterials as electrode platform in PEC biosensors for the detection of cancer biomarkers. The working principles, biorecognition strategies and key parameters that influence the performance of the biosensors will be critically discussed. In addition, the potential application of PEC biosensor in clinical settings will also be explored, providing insights into the future perspective and challenges of exploiting PEC biosensors for cancer diagnosis.

MXenes and MXene-supported nanocomposites: a novel materials for aqueous environmental remediation

Water contamination has become a significant issue on a global scale. Adsorption is a cost-effective way to treat water and wastewater compared to other techniques such as the Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), photocatalytic degradation, membrane filtration etc. Numerous research experts are continuously developing inexpensive substances for the adsorptive removal of organic contaminants from wastewater. A fresh and intriguing area of inquiry has emerged as a result of the development of MXenes. This article aims to provide a preliminary understanding of MXenes from synthesis, structure, and characterization to the scope of further research. The applications of MXenes as a new generation adsorbent for remediation of various kinds of organic pollutants and heavy metals from wastewater are also summarized. MXenes with altered surfaces may make effective adsorbents for wastewater treatment. Lastly, the mechanism of adsorption of organic contaminants and heavy metals on MXenes is also discussed for a better understanding of the readers.

On the Use of Ti3C2 T x MXene as a Negative Electrode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The pursuit of new and better battery materials has given rise to numerous studies of the possibilities to use two-dimensional negative electrode materials, such as MXenes, in lithium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, both the origin of the capacity and the reasons for significant variations in the capacity seen for different MXene electrodes still remain unclear, even for the most studied MXene: Ti₃C₂ T _x . Herein, freestanding Ti₃C₂ T _x MXene films, composed only of Ti₃C₂ T _x MXene flakes, are studied as additive-free negative lithium-ion battery electrodes, employing lithium metal half-cells and a combination of chronopotentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments. The aim of this study is to identify the redox reactions responsible for the observed reversible and irreversible capacities of Ti₃C₂ T _x -based lithium-ion batteries as well as the reasons for the significant capacity variation seen in the literature. The results demonstrate that the reversible capacity mainly stems from redox reactions involving the T _x -Ti-C titanium species situated on the surfaces of the MXene flakes, whereas the Ti-C titanium present in the core of the flakes remains electro-inactive. While a relatively low reversible capacity is obtained for electrodes composed of pristine Ti₃C₂ T _x MXene flakes, significantly higher capacities are seen after having exposed the flakes to water and air prior to the manufacturing of the electrodes. This is ascribed to a change in the titanium oxidation state at the surfaces of the MXene flakes, resulting in increased concentrations of Ti(II), Ti(III), and Ti(IV) in the T _x -Ti-C surface species. The significant irreversible capacity seen in the first cycles is mainly attributed to the presence of residual water in the Ti₃C₂ T _x electrodes. As the capacities of Ti₃C₂ T _x MXene negative electrodes depend on the concentration of Ti(II), Ti(III), and Ti(IV) in the T _x -Ti-C surface species and the water content, different capacities can be expected when using different manufacturing, pretreatment, and drying procedures.

2D MXene Nanomaterials as Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER): A Review

MXenes, a novel family of 2D transition metal carbide, nitride and carbonitride materials, have been gaining tremendous interest in recent days as potential electrocatalysts for various electrochemical reactions, including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). MXenes are characterized by their etchable metal layers, excellent structural stability, versatility for heteroatoms doping, excellent electronic conductivity, unique surface functional groups and admirable surface area, suitable for the role of electrocatalyst/support in electrochemical reactions, such as HER. In this review article, we summarized recent developments in MXene-based electrocatalysts synthesis and HER performance in terms of the theoretical and experimental point of view. We systematically evaluated the superiority of the MXene-based catalysts over traditional Pt/C catalysts in terms of HER kinetics, Tafel slope, overpotential and stability, both in acidic and alkaline electrolytic environments. We also pointed out the motives behind the electro catalytic enhancements, the effect of synthesis conditions, heteroatom doping, the effect of surface terminations on the electrocatalytic active sites of various MXenes families. At the end, various possible approaches were recommended for a deeper understanding of the active sites and catalytic improvement of MXenes catalysts for HER.

Removing Fluoride-Terminations from Multilayered V2CT x MXene by Gas Hydrolyzation

Two-dimensional MXenes have shown great promise for many different applications, but in order to fully utilize their potential, control of their termination groups is essential. Here we demonstrate hydrolyzation with a continuous gas flow as a method to remove F-terminations from multilayered V₂CT _x particles, in order to prepare nearly F-free and partly bare vanadium carbide MXene. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the substitution of F-terminations is thermodynamically feasible and presents partly nonterminated V₂CO as the dominating hydrolyzation product. Hydrolyzation at elevated temperatures reduced the F content but only subtly changed the O content, as inferred from spectroscopic data. The ideal hydrolyzation temperature was found to be 300 °C, as a degradation of the V₂CT _x phase and a transition to vanadium oxycarbides and V₂O₃ were observed at higher temperature. When tested as electrodes in Li-ion batteries, the hydrolyzed MXene demonstrated a reduced polarization compared with the pristine MXene, but no change in intercalation voltage was observed. Annealing in dry Ar did not result in the same F reduction, and the importance of water vapor was concluded, demonstrating hydrolyzation as a new and efficient method to control the surface terminations of multilayered V₂CT _x post etching. These results also provide new insights on the thermal stability of V₂CT _x MXene in hydrated atmospheres.

Termination-Property Coupling via Reversible Oxygen Functionalization of MXenes

MXenes are a growing family of 2D transition-metal carbides and nitrides, which display excellent performance in myriad of applications. Theoretical calculations suggest that manipulation of the MXene surface termination (such as =O or −F) could strongly alter their functional properties; however, experimental control of the MXene surface termination is still in the developmental stage. Here, we demonstrate that annealing MXenes in an Ar + O₂ low-power plasma results in increased =O functionalization with minimal formation of secondary phases. We apply this method to two MXenes, Ti₂CT_x and Mo₂TiC₂T_x (T_x represents the mixed surface termination), and show that in both cases, the increased =O content increases the electrical resistance and decreases the surface transition-metal’s electron count. For Mo₂TiC₂O_x, we show that the O content can be reversibly altered through successive vacuum and plasma annealing. This work provides an effective way to tune MXene surface functionalization, which may unlock exciting surface-dependent properties.

Roles of Metal Ions in MXene Synthesis, Processing and Applications: A Perspective

With a decade of effort, significant progress has been achieved in the synthesis, processing, and applications of MXenes. Metal ions play many crucial roles, such as in MXene delamination, structure regulation, surface modification, MXene composite construction, and even some unique applications. The different roles of metal ions are attributed to their many interactions with MXenes and the unique nature of MXenes, including their layered structure, surface chemistry, and the existence of multi-valent transition metals. Interactions with metal ions are crucial for the energy storage of MXene electrodes, especially in metal ion batteries and supercapacitors with neutral electrolytes. This review aims to provide a good understanding of the interactions between metal ions and MXenes, including the classification and fundamental chemistry of their interactions, in order to achieve their more effective utilization and rational design. It also provides new perspectives on MXene evolution and exfoliation, which may suggest optimized synthesis strategies. In this respect, the different effects of metal ions on MXene synthesis and processing are clarified, and the corresponding mechanisms are elaborated. Research progress on the roles metal ions have in MXene applications is also introduced.

In situ investigation of water on MXene interfaces

A continuum of water populations can exist in nanoscale layered materials, which impacts transport phenomena relevant for separation, adsorption, and charge storage processes. Quantification and direct interrogation of water structure and organization are important in order to design materials with molecular-level control for emerging energy and water applications. Through combining molecular simulations with ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, we directly probe hydration mechanisms at confined and nonconfined regions in nanolayered transition-metal carbide materials. Hydrophobic (K+) cations decrease water mobility within the confined interlayer and accelerate water removal at nonconfined surfaces. Hydrophilic cations (Li+) increase water mobility within the confined interlayer and decrease water-removal rates at nonconfined surfaces. Solutes, rather than the surface terminating groups, are shown to be more impactful on the kinetics of water adsorption and desorption. Calculations from grand canonical molecular dynamics demonstrate that hydrophilic cations (Li+) actively aid in water adsorption at MXene interfaces. In contrast, hydrophobic cations (K+) weakly interact with water, leading to higher degrees of water ordering (orientation) and faster removal at elevated temperatures.

Out-Of-Plane Ordered Laminate Borides and Their 2D Ti-Based Derivative from Chemical Exfoliation

Exploratory theoretical predictions in uncharted structural and compositional space are integral to materials discoveries. Inspired by M₅ SiB₂ (T2) phases, the finding of a family of laminated quaternary metal borides, M'₄ M″SiB₂ , with out-of-plane chemical order is reported here. 11 chemically ordered phases as well as 40 solid solutions, introducing four elements previously not observed in these borides are predicted. The predictions are experimentally verified for Ti₄ MoSiB₂ , establishing Ti as part of the T2 boride compositional space. Chemical exfoliation of Ti₄ MoSiB₂ and select removal of Si and MoB₂ sub-layers is validated by derivation of a 2D material, TiO_x Cl_y , of high yield and in the form of delaminated sheets. These sheets have an experimentally determined direct band gap of ≈4.1 eV, and display characteristics suitable for supercapacitor applications. The results take the concept of chemical exfoliation beyond currently available 2D materials, and expands the envelope of 3D and 2D candidates, and their applications.

Acoustomicrofluidic Synthesis of Pristine Ultrathin Ti3C2Tz MXene Nanosheets and Quantum Dots

The conversion of layered transition metal carbides and/or nitrides (MXenes) into zero-dimensional structures with thicknesses and lateral dimensions of a few nanometers allows these recently discovered materials with exceptional electronic properties to exploit the additional benefits of quantum confinement, edge effects, and large surface area. Conventional methods for the conversion of MXene nanosheets and quantum dots, however, involve extreme conditions such as high temperatures and/or harsh chemicals that, among other disadvantages, lead to significant degradation of the material as a consequence of their oxidation. Herein, we show that the large surface acceleration-on the order of 10 million g's-produced by high-frequency (10 MHz) nanometer-order electromechanical vibrations on a chip-scale piezoelectric substrate is capable of efficiently nebulizing, and consequently dimensionally reducing, a suspension of multilayer Ti₃C₂T_z (MXene) into predominantly monolayer nanosheets and quantum dots while, importantly, preserving the material from any appreciable oxidation. As an example application, we show that the high-purity MXene quantum dots produced using this room-temperature chemical-free synthesis method exhibit superior performance as electrode materials for electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide compared to the highly oxidized samples obtained through conventional hydrothermal synthesis. The ability to detect concentrations as low as 5 nM is a 10-fold improvement to the best reported performance of Ti₃C₂T_z MXene electrochemical sensors to date.

Inkjet Printing Transparent and Conductive MXene (Ti3C2Tx) Films: A Strategy for Flexible Energy Storage Devices

MXene is a generic name for a large family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides or nitrides, which show great promise in the field of transparent supercapacitors. However, the manufacturing of supercapacitor electrodes with a high charge storage capacity and desirable transmittance is a challenging task. Herein, a low-cost, large-scale, and rapid preparation of flexible and transparent MXene films via inkjet printing is reported. The MXene films realized the sheet resistance (R_s) of 1.66 ± 0.16 MΩ sq^-1 to 1.47 ± 0.1 kΩ sq^-1 at the transmissivity of 87-24% (λ = 550 nm), respectively, corresponding to the figure of merit (the ratio of electronic to optical conductivity, σ_DC/σ_OP) of ∼0.0012 to 0.13. Furthermore, the potential of inkjet-printed transparent MXene films in transparent supercapacitors was assessed by electrochemical characterization. The MXene film, with a transmittance of 24%, exhibited a superior areal capacitance of 887.5 μF cm^-2 and retained 85% of the initial capacitance after 10,000 charge/discharge cycles at the scan rate of 10 mV s^-1. Interestingly, the areal capacitance (192 μF cm^-2) of an assembled symmetric MXene transparent supercapacitor, with a high transmittance of 73%, still surpasses the performance of previously reported graphene and single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-based transparent electrodes. The convenient manufacturing and superior electrochemical performance of inkjet-printed flexible and transparent MXene films widen the application horizon of this strategy for flexible energy storage devices.

Improved synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXenes resulting in exceptional electrical conductivity, high synthesis yield, and enhanced capacitance

For the first time, an "Evaporated-Nitrogen" Minimally Intensive Layer Delamination (EN-MILD) synthesis approach is reported to synthesize exceptionally high quality MXene sheets. In the EN-MILD method, the concentrations of acids and Li-ions are continuously increased during the etching process. By implementing the EN-MILD approach, the electrical conductivity increases up to 2.4 × 104 S cm-1, which is the highest reported value to date for Ti3C2Tx MXenes (a traditional MILD approach results in a conductivity of 5.8 × 103 S cm-1). This significant improvement in electrical conductivity arises from the high quality of the synthesized MXene sheets as well as a larger flake size. The EN-MILD synthesis approach also offers high yield of delaminated single MXene layers (up to ∼60% after the first round of washing/centrifugation) and high colloidal concentrations (up to 31 mg ml-1). The working electrode prepared from free-standing MXene paper shows an exceptional capacitance of ≈490 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 in a supercapacitor, which is among the highest values reported for MXene-based supercapacitor electrodes. The exceptional electrical conductivity, high yield of delaminated MXene single layers, and high colloidal concentration of the EN-MILD approach significantly expand the applications of MXenes.