Our new collaborative research paper with Drexel team on Porous Ti3AlC2 MAX phase enables efficient synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene

Our new collaborative research paper with research group from Drexel University on Porous Ti3AlC2 MAX phase enables efficient synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene:

MXenes, a large family of 2D carbides and/or nitrides, are amongthe most studied materials worldwide due to their great diversity of structuresand compositions. Their unique properties find use in several applications. Typically, they are manufactured by selective wet-chemical etching of layered MAXphase ceramics, which are produced nowadays primarily for MXene synthe-sis. However, the synthesis of MAX phases has not been changed since the time of their use in structural and high-temperature applications, and it has not been optimized for MXene manufacturing. In this study, we have optimized the synthesis of MAX phases for MXene manufacturing.

$Pictures of sintered bodies after MAX synthesis. (A) fine Ti and fine Al, (B) sponge Ti and fine Al, (C) sponge Ti (fraction less than 75μm) and fine Al, and (D) fine Ti and coarse Al.$

The main purpose of this study is to develop a porous Ti3AlC2MAX phase that can be easily ground into individual grains manually without time-consuming eliminating the need for drilling and intenseball-milling before MXene synthesis. Moreover, we also demonstrate the synthesis of highly porous Ti3AlC2 (about 70%) from an inexpensive titanium sponge instead of a highly pure titanium powderand explain the mechanisms of reaction sintering and formation of porous MAXphase. MXene obtained from this MAX phase, Ti3C2Tx, shows larger flake sizeand higher electrical conductivity in thin films, compared to the materials pro-duced from the costly fine titanium powder. The proposed approach may applyto the synthesis of other MAX phases as well.

KEYWORDS: MAX phases, MXenes, porous ceramics, reaction sintering, synthesis

Read More: Roslyk I, Baginskiy I, Zahorodna V, Gogotsi O, Ippolito S, Gogotsi Y. Porous Ti3AlC2 MAX phase enables efficient synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene. Int J Appl Ceram Technol. 2024; 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijac.14671

Other recent papers:

Novel electrically conductive electrospun PCL‑MXene scaffolds for cardiac tissue regeneration

Scanning electron microscopy image of PCLMXene membranes crosssection (left side) with the representation of EDX line (dotted line) and example of cross-sectional EDX elements line scan (right side) Here we demonstrate a new developed method for depositing Ti3C2Tx MXenes onto hydrophobic electrospun PCL membranes using oxygen plasma treatment. These novel patches hold tremendous potential for providing mechanical support to damaged heart tissue and enabling electrical signal transmission,thereby mimicking the crucial electroconductivity required for normal cardiac function.

MXene Functionalized Kevlar Yarn via Automated, Continuous Dip Coating

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