Metal-bonded Atomic Layers of Transition Metal Carbides (MXenes)

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method to produce stable, metal-bonded MXene atomic layers with enhanced oxidation resistance and electromagnetic interference shielding, addressing stability challenges in MXene applications.

Contribution

A simple topological reaction method is developed to create metal-bonded MXene layers with high stability and improved functional properties.

Findings

High oxidation resistance up to 400°C

Low sheet resistance of 9.3 ohm/sq

Enhanced EMI shielding with 39 dB effectiveness

Abstract

Although two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) have fantastic physical and chemical properties as well as wide applications, it remains challenging to produce stable MXenes due to their rapid structural degradation. Here, unique metal-bonded atomic layers of transition metal carbides with high stabilities are produced via a simple topological reaction between chlorine-terminated MXenes and selected metals, where the metals enable to not only remove Cl terminations, but also efficiently bond with adjacent atomic MXene slabs, driven by the symmetry of MAX phases. The films constructed from Al-bonded Ti$_3$C$_2$Cl$_x$ atomic layers show high oxidation resistance up to 400 degrees centigrade and low sheet resistance of 9.3 ohm per square. Coupled to the multi-layer structure, the Al-bonded Ti$_3$C$_2$Cl$_x$ film displays a significantly improved EMI shielding capability with a total shielding effectiveness value of 39 dB at a low thickness of 3.1 micron, outperforming pure Ti$_3$C$_2$Cl$_x$ film.