UDC 542;546;62
O.O. HONCHARUK 1, V. YU. BALITSKIY1, 2, R. V. VORON1, M.P. BRODNIKOVSKIY2, O.G. GOGOTSI2, V.V. ZAHORODNA2,
Y. I. ZOZULYA2, M. ALHABEEB3, B. ANASORI3, K. MALESKY3, Y. G. GOGOTSI3
1 National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Laser Systems and Physical Technologies, Polytechnichna st., 37, Kyiv 03055, Ukraine
2 Materials Research Centre, 3, Krzhyzhanovs'koho st, Kyiv 03680, Ukraine
3A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
SYNTHESIS AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF 2D CARBIDES MXENES
Keywords: MXenes, 2D carbides, nanomaterials, optical properties, electromagnetic shielding, photothermal therapy, reactor, laboratory line
The family of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides, MXenes, has been expanding rapidly since the discovery of Ti3C2 MXene in 2011 [1]. More than 20 different MXenes have been synthesized, and the structure and properties of numerous other MXenes have been predicted using density functional theory calculations [2]. Two-dimensional (2D) materials with a thickness of a few nanometers or less can be used as single sheets due to their unique properties or as building blocks, to assemble a variety of structures. MXenes properties can be tunable for a large variety of applications [3] that directly lead to their use for electromagnetic shielding [4], transparent conductors, light-to-heat energy conversion [5], new advanced lasers and photothermal therapy [6].
The 2D structure, combined with high electrical conductivity and good electronic coupling between the layers, resulted very high electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency of MXenes [4].
Research results showed that MXenes demonstrates an outstanding internal light-to-heat conversion efficiency (∼100%) and show much more higher light absorption capability than other materials [5]. The 2D titanium carbide sheets show strong optical absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) around 800 nm. The performance of this material is comparable or even superior to that of stateof- the-art photo absorption materials, including gold-based nanostructures, carbon nanomaterials, and transition-metal dichalcogenides.
Unique optical and plasmonic properties have also been demonstrated, making the materials promising for photothermal therapy applications. Preliminary studies show that the titanium carbide sheets serve as an efficient photothermal agent against tumor cells [6].
Synthesis of MXene begins with etching with 10% wt. HF solution and/or a mixture of salts and acids at room temperature or slightly higher temperature the A-element atomic layers (for example, aluminum) in a MAX phase (for example, Ti3AlC2). After the etching is finished (complete removal of the A-element layers), washing must be applied to remove residual acid and reaction products (salts) and achieve a safe pH (∼6). After the pH is increased to ∼6, and intercalation of large organic molecules and subsequent delamination completed, the multilayered MXene flakes or single nanosheets can be collected via vacuum-assisted filtration and then dried in vacuum [7].
Fig. 1. Pilot laboratory line with controlled parameters for MXene synthesis (up to 100 g per batch): 1 – computer control system; 2- Etching reactor for MXene synthesis; 3 – additional equipment for laboratory technological line.
MXenes can be deposited by spin, spray, or dip coating, painted or printed, or fabricated in a variety of ways. Synthesis conditions used to produce MXenes influence the resulting properties and thus are directly related to the performance of MXenes in their applications [7].
In the laboratory, researchers synthesize MXene in very small quantity (milligramms), and it is very difficult to repeat the synthesis conditions in order to obtain a material with the same repeatable properties.
For scaling up laboratory process and to obtain the material in larger quantities (up to 100 g per batch) of good quality with repeatable properties, a pilot laboratory line was developed [7] (Fig. 1), which allows to control the etching process and adjust its basic parameters - temperature, mixing speed, recording and storing all necessary data for analysis or to repeat the conditions during subsequent syntheses to obtain a MXxene with repeatable properties.
In addition, since the acidic etching process is accompanied by the release of heat, a specially developed sealed reactor allows more secure synthesis, and also the computer control system provides the desired optimal synthesis temperature.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The publication was supported by the EU MSCA RISE NANO2DAY project №777810 under the Horizon-2020 program
References:
[1] Two-Dimensional Nanocrystals Produced by Exfoliation of Ti3AlC2. M. Naguib, et al., Advanced Materials, 23, 4248 (2011)
[2] Synthesis and Biomedical Applications Of 2D Carbides (MXenes). Gogotsi O. G., Zahorodna V. V., Balitskiy V. Y., Zozulya Y. I., Gogotsi H. G., Brodnikovskiy M. P., Gubynskyi M. V., Fedorov S. S., Alhabeb M., Meng F., Anasori B., Gogotsi Y. G. Abstract Book of 5th International Conference Nanobiophysics: Fundamental and Applied Aspects, October 2-5, 2017, Kharkiv, Ukraine
[3] Organic-Base-Driven Intercalation and Delamination for the Production of Functionalized Titanium Carbide Nanosheets with Superior Photothermal Therapeutic Performance. J. Xuan, et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 55, 1 – 7 (2016)
[4] F. Shahzad, M. Alhabeb, C.B. Hatter, B, Anasori, S.M. Hong, C. M. Koo, Y. Gogotsi, Electromagnetic Interference Shielding with 2D Transition Metal Carbides (MXenes), Science, 353 (6304) 1137-1140 (2016)
[5] MXene Ti3C2: an Effective 2D Light-to-Heat Conversion Material. Renyuan Li, Lianbin Zhang, Le Shi, Peng Wang. March 2017, ACS Nano 11(4) DOI10.1021/acsnano.6b08415
[6] Organic-Base-Driven Intercalation and Delamination for the Production of Functionalized Titanium Carbide Nanosheets with Superior Photothermal Therapeutic Performance. J. Xuan, et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 55, 1 – 7 (2016)
[7] M. Alhabeb, K. Maleski, B. Anasori, P. Lelyukh, L. Clark, S. Sin, Y. Gogotsi, Guidelines for Synthesis and Processing of 2D Titanium Carbide (Ti3C2Tx MXene), Chemistry of Materials, 29 (18) 7633-7644 (2017)
O.O. Honcharuk, V. YU. Balitskiy, R. V. Voron, M.P. Brodnikovskiy, O.G. Gogotsi, V.V. Zahorodna, Y. I. Zozulya, M. Alhabeeb, B. Anasori, K. Malesky, Y. G. Gogotsi. Synthesis and Optical Properties of 2D Carbides MXenes, Book of Abstracts for 11th International Scientific-Technical Conference "Composite Materials", National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute", April 2018, рр.118-120. UDC 542;546;62.
Conference Links:
ХI International Science and Technology Web Conference «COMPOSITION MATERIALS»
Book of Abstract for ХI International Science and Technology Web Conference «COMPOSITION MATERIALS»
MXenes potential applications include sensors, wound healing materials, and drug delivery systems. A recent study explored how different synthesis methods affect the safety and performance of MXenes. By comparing etching conditions and intercalation strategies, researchers discovered that fine-tuning the surface chemistry of MXenes plays a crucial role in improving biocompatibility. These results provide practical guidelines for developing safer MXenes and bring the field one step closer to real biomedical applications.
Exellent news, our joint patent application with Drexel University on highly porous MAX phase precursor for MXene synthesis published. Congratulations and thanks to all team involved!
Last Call! Have you submitted your abstract for IEEE NAP-2025 yet? Join us at the International Symposium on "The MXene Frontier: Transformative Nanomaterials Shaping the Future" – the largest MXene-focused conference in Europe this year! Final Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to showcase your research and engage with world leaders in the MXene field!
We are excited to announce the publication of latest review article on MXenes in Healthcare. This comprehensive review explores the groundbreaking role of MXenes—an emerging class of 2D materials—in revolutionizing the fields of medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NR04853A.
Congratulations and thank you to our collaborators from TU Wien and CEST for very interesting work and making it published! In this work, an upscalable electrochemical MXene synthesis is presented. Yields of up to 60% electrochemical MXene (EC-MXene) with no byproducts from a single exfoliation cycle are achieved.
Congratulations to all collaborators with this interesting joint work!
Thank you to our collaborators for the amazing joint work recently published in Graphene and 2D Nanomaterials about MXene–silk fibroin composite films aiming to develop materials with tunable electronic and thermal properties
Dr. Oleksiy Gogotsi, director of MRC and Carbon-Ukraine, innovative companies that are among the leaders on the world MXene market, visited 2024 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit. together with Dr. Maksym Pogorielov, Head of Advanced Biomaterials and Biophysics Laboratory, University of Latvia.
MRC and Carbon-Ukraine team visited the 3rd International MXene conference held at Drexel University on August 5-8, 2024. Conference brought together the best reserchers and leading experts on MXene field. 
Together with colleagues from the University of Latvia, MRC/Carbone Ukraine, Adam Mickiewicz University, University Clinic Essen, and others, we have developed a novel concept involving the binding of antibodies to MXenes. In our research, we utilized anti-CEACAM1 antibodies to develop targeted photo-thermal therapy for melanoma (in vitro), paving the way for future in vivo studies and clinical trials. For the first time, we demonstrate the feasibility of delivering MXenes specifically targeted to melanoma cells, enabling the effective ablation of cancer cells under near-infrared (NIR) light. This new technique opens up vast potential for the application of MXenes in cancer treatment, diagnostics, drug delivery, and many other medical purposes.
