Structure and electromagnetic properties of Ti3C2Tx MXene derived from Ti3AlC2 with different microstructures
Topic(s) : Material science
Co-authors :
Xinlei WANG (CHINA)Abstract :
Transition metal carbides/ carbonitrides (MXenes) are a new family of two-dimensional materials discovered in 2011 [1]. MXenes have a general formula of Mn+1XnTx, where M is an early transition metal (such as Sc, Ti, Cr, V, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, etc.), X is C and/or N, n = 1, 2, or 3, and Tx represents surface functional groups, such as -F, -OH, or -O [1,2]. MXenes are fabricated by selective etching the MAX phases(Mn+1AXn) [3], where A represents elements from groups 13 and 14 of the periodic table [4].
The electromagnetic(EM) wave absorbing materials attract great attention in recent years [5-9]. With the advantages of high specific surface areas, many active sites [10], excellent hydrophilicity [11] and metal conductivity [12,13], MXenes have great application potential in the field of EM absorption [10,14-16]. As a typical MXene, the EM absorption properties of Ti3C2Tx has been studied. As reported, the dielectric and EM absorption properties would change with the microstructure evolution of Ti3C2TX [17-20]. Up to now, the research focused on the optimization of EM absorption properties by tailoring etching conditions [21-24]. Tong et al. reported that with the growing etching time in HF etching condition, the structure and EM absorption properties of Ti3C2Tx changed [25]. Xu et al. studied the effect of intercalation of organic molecules (dimethylformamide, ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide) on the EM absorption properties of Ti3C2Tx [26].
As the precursor of Ti3C2Tx, Ti3AlC2 has a typical laminated structure and attracts great attention [27]. Several raw materials and synthesis methods have been developed to produce Ti3AlC2. The raw materials include Ti/Al/C [28], Ti/Al/TiC [29], Ti/Al4C3/TiC [30]and TiH2/Al/TiC [31] etc., and the synthesis methods include hot isostatic pressing [32,33], spark-plasma sintering [29-31] and self-propagating high-temperature synthesis [34-37] etc. Different raw materials and synthesis methods would lead to different structures and compositions of Ti3AlC2 [31,33,38]. For example, the grain sizes of Ti3AlC2 strongly depend on the sintering temperature and time [31].
Therefore, as the precursor of Ti3C2Tx, Ti3AlC2 will inevitably influence the microstructures and properties of Ti3C2Tx due to the diversity of its structures and compositions. But until now, the effect of Ti3AlC2 microstructure on as-derived Ti3C2Tx is rarely reported. It’s essential to carry out the related study.
The purpose of this work is to study the effect of the structures and compositions of Ti3AlC2 on the EM absorption performance of Ti3C2Tx. Five kinds of Ti3AlC2 were etched by HF solution to prepare Ti3C2Tx, and then the microstructure and composition of Ti3AlC2 and as-derived Ti3C2Tx were studied to reveal the influence mechanism.
The electromagnetic(EM) wave absorbing materials attract great attention in recent years [5-9]. With the advantages of high specific surface areas, many active sites [10], excellent hydrophilicity [11] and metal conductivity [12,13], MXenes have great application potential in the field of EM absorption [10,14-16]. As a typical MXene, the EM absorption properties of Ti3C2Tx has been studied. As reported, the dielectric and EM absorption properties would change with the microstructure evolution of Ti3C2TX [17-20]. Up to now, the research focused on the optimization of EM absorption properties by tailoring etching conditions [21-24]. Tong et al. reported that with the growing etching time in HF etching condition, the structure and EM absorption properties of Ti3C2Tx changed [25]. Xu et al. studied the effect of intercalation of organic molecules (dimethylformamide, ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide) on the EM absorption properties of Ti3C2Tx [26].
As the precursor of Ti3C2Tx, Ti3AlC2 has a typical laminated structure and attracts great attention [27]. Several raw materials and synthesis methods have been developed to produce Ti3AlC2. The raw materials include Ti/Al/C [28], Ti/Al/TiC [29], Ti/Al4C3/TiC [30]and TiH2/Al/TiC [31] etc., and the synthesis methods include hot isostatic pressing [32,33], spark-plasma sintering [29-31] and self-propagating high-temperature synthesis [34-37] etc. Different raw materials and synthesis methods would lead to different structures and compositions of Ti3AlC2 [31,33,38]. For example, the grain sizes of Ti3AlC2 strongly depend on the sintering temperature and time [31].
Therefore, as the precursor of Ti3C2Tx, Ti3AlC2 will inevitably influence the microstructures and properties of Ti3C2Tx due to the diversity of its structures and compositions. But until now, the effect of Ti3AlC2 microstructure on as-derived Ti3C2Tx is rarely reported. It’s essential to carry out the related study.
The purpose of this work is to study the effect of the structures and compositions of Ti3AlC2 on the EM absorption performance of Ti3C2Tx. Five kinds of Ti3AlC2 were etched by HF solution to prepare Ti3C2Tx, and then the microstructure and composition of Ti3AlC2 and as-derived Ti3C2Tx were studied to reveal the influence mechanism.