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 .

[@Dreamanalysis1]

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

[@qamarwali]

You are welcome

[@子维-u1g]

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

[@qamarwali]

That's great. Yeah it looks very fascinating field

[@vijayamathubalanpandy82]

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

[@qamarwali]

It is a chemical process. But when the final product (MXene) sheet is in the nanoscale range, then it is under nanotechnology. If one of its dimensions is below 100 nm, then Nano or nanotechnology or nanoscale

[@vijayamathubalanpandy82]

@@qamarwali Thanks a lot 👍

[@kamranshahzad5368]

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.

[@qamarwali]

That's great!. It's very interesting field. Read the latest research articles as many as possible. If you have issue in getting research papers, let me know, please, I can provide.

[@ShayanNoor-wm5tv]

​@@qamarwali I am recently working in this field. Your videos are very helpful, Sir. I want research papers. Will you please me?

[@tariqbashir995]

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

[@qamarwali]

The quality of these elements helps in the formation of the MAX phases. For detail, please read any good review paper on the *formation of MAX phases*

[@tariqbashir995]

What do you mean by quality of these elements? You get me wrong. My question is can we used later transition elements like lanthanides or actinides? If you answer is yes/no then please elaborate in either condition.

[@tariqbashir995]

I am first and correspondent author of several reviews related to MXene. I didn't find any proper answer thats why i asked you here. If you have any information then please also inform me. Thanks

[@qamarwali]

@tariqbashir995 I am not that much expert in MXene. Anyhow, from MAX phases, we easily get MXene. By quality, I mean that the *A layer* from the MAX phases can easily be removed to form the 2D MXene.

[@qamarwali]

@tariqbashir995 Good job. Congratulations 🎊. I may partially answer your question above. Simply, these M, A, and I from the MAX phases, then we easily extract or remove the A layer to form MXene.

[@ShahinurRahman-n3u]

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

[@qamarwali]

For better understanding, read the latest literature published in quality journals. If you have difficulty in finding or downloading the research papers, then let me know, please