Synthesis of MAX Phases - MXenes 2D Nanomaterials

*MXenes* are basically produce by etching A layer from *MAX phases* and the suffix ‘ene’ added in order to shows its similarity to graphene. Immersing a MAX phase in strong etching solutions at room temperature such as hydrofluoric acid (HF). 2D nanosheet Ti3C2 layers produced by exfoliation of Ti3AlC2 in hydrofluoric acid.

Transition metals carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides known as MXenes (pronounced “maxenes”) [Ref 1, 2].

*MXenes Chemical Formula*
Mn+1XnTx (n = 1, 2, or 3), where M is early transition metals (Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb), X is carbon and/or nitrogen, and T refer to surface terminations (-O, -OH, -F, -Cl) [Ref 3]. The first MXenes (Ti3C2Tx) was discovered at Drexel University in 2011 [Ref 1].

MAX phases can also be synthesized with different combinations, or solid solutions, of M atoms, such as (Ti0.5Nb0.5)2 AlC[Ref 4], A atoms, such as Ti3(Al0.5 Si0.5)C2 [Ref 5] and in the X sites such as Ti2 Al(C0.5N0.5)[Ref 6]

*Carbide*
It is usually describes a compound consist of carbon and a metal or semi-metallic elements. Example are calcium carbide (CaC2) and silicon carbide (SiC)

*Nitrides*
It is an inorganic compound of nitrogen. Example are boron nitride and phosphorus nitride, P3N5.

*Hydrophilicity*
A hydrophile is a molecule that is attracted to water molecules and tends to be dissolved by water. On the other hand, hydrophobes entity do not attracted to water and may seem to be repelled by it. The third type is Hygroscopics, which are attracted to water, but are not dissolved by it.

[Ref 1] Naguib, M.; Kurtoglu, M.; Presser, V.; Lu, J.; Niu, J.; Heon, M.; Hultman, L.; Gogotsi, Y.; Barsoum, M. W. Two-Dimensional Nanocrystals Produced by Exfoliation of Ti3AlC2. Adv. Mater. 2011, 23, 4248– 4253, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201102306
[Ref 2] Science 331, 568 (2011); DOI: 10.1126/science.1194975
[Ref 3] J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017,5, 24564-24579
[Ref 4] I. Salama , T. El-Raghy , M. W. Barsoum , J. Alloys Compd. 2002 , 347 , 271 .
[Ref 5] H. B. Zhang , Y. C. Zhou , Y. W. Bao , M. S. Li , J. Y. Wang , J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 2006 , 26 , 2373
[Ref 6] M. W. Barsoum , T. El-Raghy , M. Ali , Metall. Mater. Trans. A 2000 , 31 , 1857 .

[Dreamanalysis]

Thank you sir, you have explained very nicely, its very helpful for me🙏

[LowLifeGraphicsProgrammer]

Well made presentation, I feel interested even I'm not working in this field

[kamranshahzad]

This is helpful. I'm working on mXene electrodes. Still looking for suitable combination of materials for max phases and proper synthesis of max phases.

[vijayamathubalanpandy]

Is this preparation techniques of MXene comes under nanotechnology? Or simply a chemical process?

[tariqbashir]

Why only early transition elements are used for the synthesis of MAX phases ? Why we can't use later or LA and Ac ?

[ShahinurRahman-nu]

What if we run the same process only except adding A in the process? What will happen then?