Chapter 4 - Optical and mechanical properties of MXenes

Abstract

Transition metal carbides and nitrides, MXenes, general form Mn+1Xn, are a new form of two-dimensional nanomaterial composed of a few atomic layers of transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides. MXenes can be made using a multitude of transition metals, such as Ti, Mo, V, Cr, and their alloys, with carbon and nitrogen layers containing tunable surface functional groups. This wide range of chemical composition gives MXenes a wide variety of mechanical, optical, electrical, and chemical properties to study. This chapter explores the various synthesis pathways of MXene nanomaterials, including discussion of bottom-up and top-down synthesis methods, and how mechanical and optical properties can be tuned. The use of intercalants such as DMSO, amines, and various ions from the etching process to tune the material for specific applications, such as optical devices and mechanically strengthening additives for various composites, is discussed. The morphological properties of MXenes are discussed and reviewed for their mechanical and optical properties on nano and macro scales. Finally, applications using MXenes for their mechanical, optical, and electrical properties are discussed.