Research Progress of Novel Two-dimensional Material MXene

doi:10.15541/jim20160479

Abstract

Abstract:

MXene is a new family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides or carbonitrides with graphene-like 2D morphology. The chemical formula of MXene is M_n₊₁X_nT_z, where M is an early transition metal, X is C and/or N, T stands for surface-terminating functional groups like F^-, OH^-, O^2-, etc., and n = 1, 2, or 3. It can be achieved by selective etching of the A element from the MAX phases, and HF is an etchant mostly used. First-principles calculations about MXene have been performed to reveal the structure and properties. MXene has also been found to have a unique two-dimensional layered structure, large specific surface area and good electrical conductivity, stability, magnetic and mechanical properties, and thus it is promising in many fields, including energy storage, catalysis and adsorption. This article reviews the quite recent progress of MXene based on theoretical and experimental considerations, especially its structure, synthesis, and applications. Finally, the suggestions about existing challenges and future developments are proposed. MXene is expected to be used for more various applications with further extensive research.

Key words: MXene, chemical liquid phase etching method, the first-principles calculation, application

CLC Number:

TQ174

ZHANG Jian-Feng, CAO Hui-Yang, WANG Hong-Bing. Research Progress of Novel Two-dimensional Material MXene[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2017, 32(6): 561-570.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 Fragment of the periodic table, showing elements forming MAX phases with general composition Mn+1AXn. Inset is an example of packing motif for the MAX phases[11]

Fig. 2 Structure diagrams of three typical MAX phases

Fig. 3 Citation reports analysis of Mxene(a) The number of MXene papers published recently; (b) The number of citations about MXene published recently; (c) The contribution rate of ten main organizations in the 306 papers about MXene; (d) The contribution rate of ten main authors in the 306 papers about MXene

Table1 Cohesive energies ( Ecoh, ) and differences in Ecoh ( ΔE ) for MAX Tin+1AlCn phases, Tin+1Al0.5Cn and Tin+1Cn free-standing NBs uersus B1-TiC[37]

System	^*E_coh/ eV	^*ΔE_coh/ eV
^*TiC	7.49(7.16^a; 9.14^b; 9.28^c; 7.20^d; 7.30^e; 7.31^f; 7.45ⁱ)	-
^*Ti₂AlC	6.29(7.79^c)	1.20(1.49^c)
Ti₂Al_0.5C	6.28	1.21
Ti₂C	6.28	1.21
Ti₃AlC₂	6.71(8.32^c; 6.93^g; 7.70^h; 8.499^j)	0.78(0.96^c)
Ti₃Al_0.5C₂	6.76	0.73
Ti₃C₂	6.82	0.67

Fig. 4 The relative energy position of the lowest NFE state for functionalized MXenes, as well as for graphene, graphane, BN, and MoS2 layers with respect to the Fermi level (Ef) as a function of the work function[47]

Table2 Physical properties of Ti3C2Tx, Ti3C2Tx/PVA and PVA films[53]

MXene content/wt%	Thickness/μm	Conductivity/(S·m^-1)	Tensile strength/MPa	Young’s modulus/GPa	Strain to failure/%
100	3.3	240238±3500	22±2	3.52±0.01	1.0±0.2
90	3.9	22433±1400	30±3	3.00±0.01	1.8±0.3
80	6.1	137±3	25±4	1.7±0.2	2.0±0.4
60	7.2	1.30±0.08	43±8	1.8±0.6	3.0±0.5
40	12.0	0.040±0.003	91±10	3.70±0.02	4.0±0.5
0	13.0	-	30±5	1.0±0.3	15.0±6.5

Fig. 5 Schematic of the exfoliation process for Ti3AlC2(a) Ti3AlC2 structure; (b) Selective etching of the A element from the MAX phases after reaction with HF; (c) surface-terminating functional groups

Table3 Process conditions and c-lattice parameters for MXene synthesis from MAX phases

MAX structure	MAX	MXene	Etching conduction			Particle size /μm	c-lattice parameter/nm		Ref.
MAX structure	MAX	MXene	HF/%	Time/h	Temp. /℃	Particle size /μm	MAX	MXene	Ref.
211	Ti₂AlC	Ti₂CT_x	10	10	25	<35	1.360	1.504	[10]
	Nb₂AlC	Nb₂CT_x	50	90	25	<38	1.388	2.234	[58]
	V₂AlC	V₂CT_x	40	168	25	<74	1.315	2.370	[59]
	TiNbAlC	TiNbCT_x	50	28	25	<35	1.379	1.488	[10]
312	Ti₃AlC₂	Ti₃C₂T_x	50	2	25	<35	1.842	2.051	[10-11]
	Ti₃AlC₂	Ti₃C₂T_x	40	20	25	-	1.862	2.089	[60]
	Ti₃AlC₂	Ti₃C₂T_x	49	24	60	-	1.830	1.990	[61]
	Ti₃AlCN	Ti₃CNT_x	30	18	25	<35	1.841	2.228	[10]
	(V_0.5Cr_0.5)₂AlC₂	(V_0.5Cr_0.5)₂C₂T_x	50	69	25	<35	1.773	2.426	[10]
413	Ta₄AlC₃	Ta₄C₃T_x	50	72	25	<35	2.408	3.034	[10]
	Nb₄AlC₃	Nb₄C₃T_x	48-51	96	25	<38	2.242	3.059	[21]

Fig. 6 Schematic illustration for delamination process of surface modified MXene multilayers by aryl diazonium salts[31]

Fig. 7 FTIR spectra of MXene Ti3C2 before and after surface modification with diazonium salts[31]

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