The family of 2D transition metal carbides, carbonitrides and nitrides (collectively referred to as MXenes) has expanded rapidly since the discovery of Ti3C2 in 2011. The materials reported so far always have surface terminations, such as hydroxyl, oxygen or fluorine, which impart hydrophilicity to their surfaces. About 20 different MXenes have been synthesized, and the structures and properties of dozens more have been theoretically predicted. The availability of solid solutions, the control of surface terminations and a recent discovery of multi-transition-metal layered MXenes offer the potential for synthesis of many new structures. The versatile chemistry of MXenes allows the tuning of properties for applications including energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, reinforcement for composites, water purification, gas- and biosensors, lubrication, and photo-, electro- and chemical catalysis. Attractive electronic, optical, plasmonic and thermoelectric properties have also been shown. In this Review, we present the synthesis, structure and properties of MXenes, as well as their energy storage and related applications, and an outlook for future research. More than twenty 2D carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of transition metals (MXenes) have been synthesized and studied, and dozens more predicted to exist. Highly electrically conductive MXenes show promise in electrical energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, electrocatalysis, plasmonics and other applications.

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2D metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) for energy storage

Graphene’s success has shown that it is possible to create stable, single and few-atom-thick layers of van der Waals materials, and also that these materials can exhibit fascinating and technologically useful properties. Here we review the state-of-the-art of 2D materials beyond graphene. Initially, we will outline the different chemical classes of 2D materials and discuss the various strategies to prepare single-layer, few-layer, and multilayer assembly materials in solution, on substrates, and on the wafer scale. Additionally, we present an experimental guide for identifying and characterizing single-layer-thick materials, as well as outlining emerging techniques that yield both local and global information. We describe the differences that occur in the electronic structure between the bulk and the single layer and discuss various methods of tuning their electronic properties by manipulating the surface. Finally, we highlight the properties and advantages of single-, few-, and many-layer 2D materials in...

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Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities in Two-Dimensional Materials Beyond Graphene

Recently a new, large family of two-dimensional (2D) early transition metal carbides and carbonitrides, called MXenes, was discovered. MXenes are produced by selective etching of the A element from the MAX phases, which are metallically conductive, layered solids connected by strong metallic, ionic, and covalent bonds, such as Ti2AlC, Ti3AlC2, and Ta4AlC3. MXenes ­combine the metallic conductivity of transition metal carbides with the hydrophilic nature of their hydroxyl or oxygen terminated surfaces. In essence, they behave as “conductive clays”. This article reviews progress—both ­experimental and theoretical—on their synthesis, structure, properties, intercalation, delamination, and potential applications. MXenes are expected to be good candidates for a host of applications. They have already shown promising performance in electrochemical energy storage systems. A detailed outlook for future research on MXenes is also presented.

25th Anniversary Article: MXenes: A New Family of Two‐Dimensional Materials

Safe and powerful energy storage devices are becoming increasingly important. Charging times of seconds to minutes, with power densities exceeding those of batteries, can in principle be provided by electrochemical capacitors--in particular, pseudocapacitors. Recent research has focused mainly on improving the gravimetric performance of the electrodes of such systems, but for portable electronics and vehicles volume is at a premium. The best volumetric capacitances of carbon-based electrodes are around 300 farads per cubic centimetre; hydrated ruthenium oxide can reach capacitances of 1,000 to 1,500 farads per cubic centimetre with great cyclability, but only in thin films. Recently, electrodes made of two-dimensional titanium carbide (Ti3C2, a member of the 'MXene' family), produced by etching aluminium from titanium aluminium carbide (Ti3AlC2, a 'MAX' phase) in concentrated hydrofluoric acid, have been shown to have volumetric capacitances of over 300 farads per cubic centimetre. Here we report a method of producing this material using a solution of lithium fluoride and hydrochloric acid. The resulting hydrophilic material swells in volume when hydrated, and can be shaped like clay and dried into a highly conductive solid or rolled into films tens of micrometres thick. Additive-free films of this titanium carbide 'clay' have volumetric capacitances of up to 900 farads per cubic centimetre, with excellent cyclability and rate performances. This capacitance is almost twice that of our previous report, and our synthetic method also offers a much faster route to film production as well as the avoidance of handling hazardous concentrated hydrofluoric acid.

Conductive two-dimensional titanium carbide ‘clay’ with high volumetric capacitance

Since the discovery of mechanically exfoliated graphene in 2004, research on ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the fields of condensed matter physics, material science, chemistry, and nanotechnology. Highlighting their compelling physical, chemical, electronic, and optical properties, as well as their various potential applications, in this Review, we summarize the state-of-art progress on the ultrathin 2D nanomaterials with a particular emphasis on their recent advances. First, we introduce the unique advances on ultrathin 2D nanomaterials, followed by the description of their composition and crystal structures. The assortments of their synthetic methods are then summarized, including insights on their advantages and limitations, alongside some recommendations on suitable characterization techniques. We also discuss in detail the utilization of these ultrathin 2D nanomaterials for wide ranges of potential applications among the electronics/optoelectronics, electrocat...

Recent Advances in Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

Currently, however, there are relatively few such atomically layered solids. [ 2–5 ] Here, we report on 2D nanosheets, composed of a few Ti 3 C 2 layers and conical scrolls, produced by the room temperature exfoliation of Ti 3 AlC 2 in hydrofl uoric acid. The large elastic moduli predicted by ab initio simulation, and the possibility of varying their surface chemistries (herein they are terminated by hydroxyl and/or fl uorine groups) render these nanosheets attractive as polymer composite fi llers. Theory also predicts that their bandgap can be tuned by varying their surface terminations. The good conductivity and ductility of the treated powders suggest uses in Li-ion batteries, pseudocapacitors, and other electronic applications. Since Ti 3 AlC 2 is a member of a 60 + group of layered ternary carbides and nitrides known as the MAX phases, this discovery opens a door to the synthesis of a large number of other 2D crystals. Arguably the most studied freestanding 2D material is graphene, which was produced by mechanical exfoliation into single-layers in 2004. [ 1 ] Some other layered materials, such as hexagonal BN, [ 2 ] transition metal oxides, and hydroxides, [ 4 ] as well as clays, [ 3 ] have also been exfoliated into 2D sheets. Interestingly, exfoliated MoS 2 single layers were reported as early as in 1986. [ 5 ] Graphene is fi nding its way to applications ranging from supercapacitor electrodes [ 6 ] to reinforcement in composites. [ 7 ] Although graphene has attracted more attention than all other 2D materials combined, its simple chemistry and the weak van der Waals bonding between layers in multilayer structures limit its use. Complex, layered structures that contain more than one element may offer new properties because they

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Two‐Dimensional Nanocrystals Produced by Exfoliation of Ti 3 AlC 2

Recently, we reported on the facile synthesis of a number of two-dimensional early transition metal carbides and nitrides, derived from the MAX phases, that we labeled MXenes. Herein, we report on the electronic and elastic properties—investigated by first principles calculations utilizing the generalized gradient approximation within the density functional theory—of the following two-dimensional transition metal carbides: Ti2C, Ti3C2, Ti4C3, V2C, Cr2C, Zr2C, Hf2C, and Ta2C, Ta3C2, and Ta4C3. Similar to the MAX phases, the MXenes are found to be metallic and possess high elastic moduli when stretched along the basal planes.

First principles study of two-dimensional early transition metal carbides

Treatment of Ti3AlC2 powders in HF (2 h) results in exfoliation and formation of two-dimensional Ti3C2 layers with OH and/or F surface groups and conical scrolls.

Two‐Dimensional Nanocrystals Produced by Exfoliation of Ti3AlC2.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/adma.201190147

Two‐Dimensional Nanocrystals: Two‐Dimensional Nanocrystals Produced by Exfoliation of Ti3AlC2 (Adv. Mater. 37/2011)

In spite of extensive research on cationic and anionic doping of titania, only moderate progress in improving its photocatalytic activity has been achieved. In this article, we show that chromium and nitrogen form strong coupling inside the titanium dioxide (TiO2) anatase lattice resulting in a 10-fold increase of photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet irradiation compared with that of Cr or N doping alone. Extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that both negatively charged defect centers (CrTi– NO–) form strong bonds rather than repel each other. The resulting Cr–N defect centers are found to decrease the concentration of trivalent titanium in heavily doped films, which may contribute to the observed increase in photocatalytic activity. The importance of this work lies far beyond simply the Cr and N doping because it opens the door for scientifically driven designs of codoped titania for various photocatalytic applications ranging from self-cleaning coatings to solar cells.

Murat Kurtoglu

Papers

Two‐Dimensional Nanocrystals Produced by Exfoliation of Ti 3 AlC 2

First principles study of two-dimensional early transition metal carbides

Two‐Dimensional Nanocrystals Produced by Exfoliation of Ti3AlC2.

Two‐Dimensional Nanocrystals: Two‐Dimensional Nanocrystals Produced by Exfoliation of Ti3AlC2 (Adv. Mater. 37/2011)

Strong Coupling of Cr and N in Cr–N-doped TiO2 and Its Effect on Photocatalytic Activity