MXenes: An Introduction of Their Synthesis, Select Properties, and Applications

Two dimensional (2D) materials have attracted significant attention in the past decade for their high application potential to address some of society’s most pressing issues such as energy storage and the scarcity of potable water. One of the latest, and relatively large, family of 2D materials is transition-metal carbides and nitrides, called MXenes. Since the initial synthesis of Ti3C2 in hydrofluoric acid in 2011, almost 30 other new compositions and at least eight different synthesis pathways have been reported. In this review, we overview the structure, synthesis, and chemistry of MXenes, with examples of their properties and potential applications that partially explain why these materials have become so popular.

[1]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  Two-dimensional transition metal carbides. , 2012, ACS nano.

[2]  S J L Billinge,et al.  Synthesis and characterization of two-dimensional Nb4C3 (MXene). , 2014, Chemical communications.

[3]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  New two-dimensional niobium and vanadium carbides as promising materials for Li-ion batteries. , 2013, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[4]  X. Bao,et al.  Alkalized Ti3C2 MXene nanoribbons with expanded interlayer spacing for high-capacity sodium and potassium ion batteries , 2017 .

[5]  Z. Liu,et al.  Mn-doping-induced itinerant-electron ferromagnetism in Cr[2]GeC , 2014 .

[6]  Li-zhen Fan,et al.  Two-dimensional Ti3C2 as anode material for Li-ion batteries , 2014 .

[7]  Liang Zhao,et al.  Applications of 2D MXenes in energy conversion and storage systems. , 2019, Chemical Society reviews.

[8]  M. Barsoum,et al.  Mo2TiAlC2: A new ordered layered ternary carbide , 2015 .

[9]  Heng Wu,et al.  Ti3C2 MXenes with Modified Surface for High-Performance Electromagnetic Absorption and Shielding in the X-Band. , 2016, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[10]  Hao Yu,et al.  A hydrothermal etching route to synthesis of 2D MXene (Ti3C2, Nb2C): Enhanced exfoliation and improved adsorption performance , 2018, Ceramics International.

[11]  M. Beidaghi,et al.  Two-Dimensional Vanadium Carbide (MXene) as a High-Capacity Cathode Material for Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries. , 2017, ACS nano.

[12]  S. Du,et al.  A Two-Dimensional Zirconium Carbide by Selective Etching of Al3C3 from Nanolaminated Zr3Al3C5. , 2016, Angewandte Chemie.

[13]  M. Naguib,et al.  Large-scale delamination of multi-layers transition metal carbides and carbonitrides "MXenes". , 2015, Dalton transactions.

[14]  T. Ouisse,et al.  Variable range hopping and thermally activated transport in molybdenum-based MXenes , 2018, Physical Review B.

[15]  Young Min Jhon,et al.  Enhanced Terahertz Shielding of MXenes with Nano‐Metamaterials , 2018 .

[16]  Y. Gogotsi,et al.  Selective Etching of Silicon from Ti3 SiC2 (MAX) To Obtain 2D Titanium Carbide (MXene). , 2018, Angewandte Chemie.

[17]  Y. Gogotsi,et al.  2D molybdenum and vanadium nitrides synthesized by ammoniation of 2D transition metal carbides (MXenes). , 2017, Nanoscale.

[18]  J. Coleman,et al.  Liquid Exfoliation of Layered Materials , 2013, Science.

[19]  M. Barsoum,et al.  Transparent, conductive solution processed spincast 2D Ti2CTx (MXene) films , 2017 .

[20]  B. George,et al.  Two-Dimensional Titanium Nitride (Ti2N) MXene: Synthesis, Characterization, and Potential Application as Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrate. , 2017, ACS nano.

[21]  M. Barsoum,et al.  Tailoring Structure, Composition, and Energy Storage Properties of MXenes from Selective Etching of In-Plane, Chemically Ordered MAX Phases. , 2018, Small.

[22]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  Conductive two-dimensional titanium carbide ‘clay’ with high volumetric capacitance , 2014, Nature.

[23]  Y. Qian,et al.  (Cr2/3Ti1/3)3AlC2 and (Cr5/8Ti3/8)4AlC3: New MAX‐phase Compounds in Ti–Cr–Al–C System , 2014 .

[24]  K. Dandekar,et al.  2D titanium carbide (MXene) for wireless communication , 2018, Science Advances.

[25]  V. Presser,et al.  Two‐Dimensional Nanocrystals Produced by Exfoliation of Ti3AlC2 , 2011, Advanced materials.

[26]  V. Natu,et al.  Effect of Edge Charges on Stability and Aggregation of Ti3C2Tz MXene Colloidal Suspensions , 2018, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C.

[27]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  Electromagnetic interference shielding with 2D transition metal carbides (MXenes) , 2016, Science.

[28]  L. Hultman,et al.  Synthesis and characterization of arc deposited magnetic (Cr,Mn)2AlC MAX phase films , 2014 .

[29]  S. Du,et al.  Element Replacement Approach by Reaction with Lewis Acidic Molten Salts to Synthesize Nanolaminated MAX Phases and MXenes. , 2019, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[30]  S. Ólafsson,et al.  Magnetic self-organized atomic laminate from first principles and thin film synthesis. , 2013, Physical review letters.

[31]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  Intercalation and delamination of layered carbides and carbonitrides , 2013, Nature Communications.

[32]  Husam N. Alshareef,et al.  Thermoelectric Properties of Two-Dimensional Molybdenum-Based MXenes , 2017 .

[33]  Micah J. Green,et al.  Electrochemical etching of Ti2AlC to Ti2CTx (MXene) in low-concentration hydrochloric acid solution , 2017 .

[34]  C. M. Hamm,et al.  Non-conventional synthesis and magnetic properties of MAX phases (Cr/Mn)2AlC and (Cr/Fe)2AlC , 2017 .

[35]  Libo Wang,et al.  Non-isothermal crystallization and thermal degradation kinetics of MXene/linear low-density polyethylene nanocomposites , 2017 .

[36]  Yoshiyuki Kawazoe,et al.  Novel Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Two‐Dimensional Transition Metal Carbides and Nitrides , 2013 .

[37]  V. Natu,et al.  Mesoporous MXene powders synthesized by acid induced crumpling and their use as Na-ion battery anodes , 2018 .

[38]  M. Barsoum,et al.  Two-dimensional Mo1.33C MXene with divacancy ordering prepared from parent 3D laminate with in-plane chemical ordering , 2017, Nature Communications.

[39]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  Hollow MXene Spheres and 3D Macroporous MXene Frameworks for Na‐Ion Storage , 2017, Advanced materials.

[40]  A. Yamada,et al.  Sodium-Ion Intercalation Mechanism in MXene Nanosheets. , 2016, ACS nano.

[41]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  Control of electronic properties of 2D carbides (MXenes) by manipulating their transition metal layers. , 2016, Nanoscale horizons.

[42]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  Prediction and characterization of MXene nanosheet anodes for non-lithium-ion batteries. , 2014, ACS nano.

[43]  Chang E. Ren,et al.  Fabrication of Ti3C2Tx MXene Transparent Thin Films with Tunable Optoelectronic Properties , 2016 .

[44]  Michel W. Barsoum,et al.  Synthesis of two-dimensional molybdenum carbide, Mo2C, from the gallium based atomic laminate Mo2Ga2C , 2015 .

[45]  Hui‐Ming Cheng,et al.  Overview of the synthesis of MXenes and other ultrathin 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides , 2019, Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science.

[46]  Andre K. Geim,et al.  The rise of graphene. , 2007, Nature materials.

[47]  L. Näslund,et al.  On the organization and thermal behavior of functional groups on Ti3C2 MXene surfaces in vacuum , 2017 .

[48]  Qiu Jiang,et al.  Large Dielectric Constant Enhancement in MXene Percolative Polymer Composites. , 2018, ACS nano.

[49]  V. Natu,et al.  On the Chemical Diversity of the MAX Phases , 2019, Trends in Chemistry.

[50]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  2D metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) for energy storage , 2017 .

[51]  Pierre-Louis Taberna,et al.  MXene: a promising transition metal carbide anode for lithium-ion batteries , 2012 .

[52]  K. Novoselov,et al.  A roadmap for graphene , 2012, Nature.

[53]  Leopoldo Molina-Luna,et al.  Adding a New Member to the MXene Family: Synthesis, Structure, and Electrocatalytic Activity for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction of V4C3Tx , 2018, ACS Applied Energy Materials.

[54]  Jinfeng Chen,et al.  Preparation of Ti3C2 and Ti2C MXenes by fluoride salts etching and methane adsorptive properties , 2017 .

[55]  Lars Hultman,et al.  Prediction and synthesis of a family of atomic laminate phases with Kagomé-like and in-plane chemical ordering , 2017, Science Advances.

[56]  Baozhong Liu,et al.  Unique lead adsorption behavior of activated hydroxyl group in two-dimensional titanium carbide. , 2014, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[57]  Reva M. Street,et al.  Preparation and characterization of polymer-Ti3C2Tx (MXene) composite nanofibers produced via electrospinning , 2017 .

[58]  Sang-Hoon Park,et al.  Transparent, Flexible, and Conductive 2D Titanium Carbide (MXene) Films with High Volumetric Capacitance , 2017, Advanced materials.

[59]  Fei Wang,et al.  Theoretical Prediction and Synthesis of (Cr2/3Zr1/3)2AlC i-MAX Phase. , 2018, Inorganic chemistry.

[60]  M. Barsoum,et al.  Alkylammonium Cation Intercalation into Ti3C2 (MXene): Effects on Properties and Ion-Exchange Capacity Estimation , 2017 .

[61]  Mohammad Khazaei,et al.  Electronic properties and applications of MXenes: a theoretical review , 2017, 1702.07442.

[62]  Pierre-Louis Taberna,et al.  Ultra-high-rate pseudocapacitive energy storage in two-dimensional transition metal carbides , 2017, Nature Energy.

[63]  Majid Beidaghi,et al.  Two-Dimensional, Ordered, Double Transition Metals Carbides (MXenes). , 2015, ACS nano.

[64]  P. Blom,et al.  Fluoride-Free Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Titanium Carbide (MXene) Using A Binary Aqueous System. , 2018, Angewandte Chemie.

[65]  Michel W. Barsoum,et al.  MAX Phases: Properties of Machinable Ternary Carbides and Nitrides , 2013 .

[66]  Jaeho Jeon,et al.  Surface group modification and carrier transport properties of layered transition metal carbides (Ti2CT(x), T: -OH, -F and -O). , 2015, Nanoscale.

[67]  Jun Lu,et al.  Origin of Chemically Ordered Atomic Laminates ( i-MAX): Expanding the Elemental Space by a Theoretical/Experimental Approach. , 2018, ACS nano.

[68]  Jun Lu,et al.  Theoretical stability and materials synthesis of a chemically ordered MAX phase, Mo2ScAlC2, and its two-dimensional derivate Mo2ScC2 MXene , 2017 .

[69]  R. K. Schofield,et al.  Flocculation of kaolinite due to the attraction of oppositely charged crystal faces , 1954 .

[70]  Mohammad Khazaei,et al.  Topological insulators in the ordered double transition metals M 2 ′ M ″ C 2 MXenes ( M ′ = Mo , W; M ″ = Ti , Zr, Hf) , 2016, 1609.03649.

[71]  M. Barsoum,et al.  Conductive transparent V2CTx (MXene) films , 2018 .

[72]  Jagjit Nanda,et al.  Synthesis and Characterization of 2D Molybdenum Carbide (MXene) , 2016 .

[73]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  Pseudocapacitive Electrodes Produced by Oxidant‐Free Polymerization of Pyrrole between the Layers of 2D Titanium Carbide (MXene) , 2016, Advanced materials.

[74]  Jun Lu,et al.  Theoretical and Experimental Exploration of a Novel In-Plane Chemically Ordered (Cr2/3M1/3)2AlC i-MAX Phase with M = Sc and Y , 2017 .

[75]  Y. Gogotsi,et al.  Topochemical synthesis of 2D materials. , 2018, Chemical Society reviews.

[76]  Arvind Varma,et al.  Electrochemical performance of MXenes as K-ion battery anodes. , 2017, Chemical communications.

[77]  Kevin M. Cook,et al.  Transparent Conductive Two-Dimensional Titanium Carbide Epitaxial Thin Films , 2014, Chemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society.

[78]  Di Zhang,et al.  Fluorine-Free Synthesis of High-Purity Ti3 C2 Tx (T=OH, O) via Alkali Treatment. , 2018, Angewandte Chemie.

[79]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  Porous Two‐Dimensional Transition Metal Carbide (MXene) Flakes for High‐Performance Li‐Ion Storage , 2016 .

[80]  V. Natu,et al.  Anion Adsorption, Ti3C2Tz MXene Multilayers, and Their Effect on Claylike Swelling , 2018, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C.

[81]  Chenhui Yang,et al.  A novel nitrite biosensor based on the direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin immobilized on MXene-Ti3C2 , 2015 .

[82]  Yongyao Xia,et al.  Electrochemical capacitors: mechanism, materials, systems, characterization and applications. , 2016, Chemical Society reviews.

[83]  Kevin M. Cook,et al.  X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of select multi-layered transition metal carbides (MXenes) , 2016 .

[84]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  NMR reveals the surface functionalisation of Ti3C2 MXene. , 2016, Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP.

[85]  V. Natu,et al.  Alkali-induced crumpling of Ti3C2Tx (MXene) to form 3D porous networks for sodium ion storage. , 2018, Chemical communications.

[86]  Y. Gogotsi,et al.  Ion-Exchange and Cation Solvation Reactions in Ti3C2 MXene , 2016 .

[87]  M. Barsoum,et al.  Electronic properties of freestanding Ti3C2Tx MXene monolayers , 2016 .

[88]  Hui-Ming Cheng,et al.  Lightweight and Flexible Graphene Foam Composites for High‐Performance Electromagnetic Interference Shielding , 2013, Advanced materials.

[89]  M. Barsoum,et al.  Atomically Resolved Structural and Chemical Investigation of Single MXene Sheets. , 2015, Nano letters.

[90]  Y. Gogotsi,et al.  Highly Conductive Optical Quality Solution‐Processed Films of 2D Titanium Carbide , 2016 .

[91]  Yury Gogotsi,et al.  Synthesis of two-dimensional titanium nitride Ti4N3 (MXene). , 2016, Nanoscale.

[92]  M. Barsoum,et al.  Pressure-induced shear and interlayer expansion in Ti3C2 MXene in the presence of water , 2018, Science Advances.

[93]  Weiqun Shi,et al.  Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Two-Dimensional Hafnium Carbide. , 2017, ACS nano.

[94]  N. Peres,et al.  1 Universal Dynamic Conductivity and Quantized Visible Opacity of Suspended Graphene , 2008 .

[95]  Chang E. Ren,et al.  Porous heterostructured MXene/carbon nanotube composite paper with high volumetric capacity for sodium-based energy storage devices , 2016 .

[96]  Heng Zhang,et al.  Preparation, mechanical and anti-friction performance of MXene/polymer composites , 2016 .

[97]  Chang E. Ren,et al.  Flexible and conductive MXene films and nanocomposites with high capacitance , 2014, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.