Effect of the deposition process on the stability of Ti3C2T x MXene films for bioelectronics

Abstract

Ti3C2T x MXene is emerging as the enabling material in a broad range of wearable and implantable medical technologies, thanks to its outstanding electrical, electrochemical, and optoelectronic properties, and its compatibility with high-throughput solution-based processing. While the prevalence of Ti3C2T x MXene in biomedical research, and in particular bioelectronics, has steadily increased, the long-term stability and degradation of Ti3C2T x MXene films have not yet been thoroughly investigated, limiting its use for chronic applications. Here, we investigate the stability of Ti3C2T x films and electrodes under environmental conditions that are relevant to medical and bioelectronic technologies: storage in ambient atmosphere (shelf-life), submersion in saline (akin to the in vivo environment), and storage in a desiccator (low-humidity). Furthermore, to evaluate the effect of the MXene deposition method and thickness on the film stability in the different conditions, we compare thin (25 nm), and thick (1.0 μm) films and electrodes fabricated via spray-coating and blade-coating. Our findings indicate that film processing method and thickness play a significant role in determining the long-term performance of Ti3C2T x films and electrodes, with highly aligned, thick films from blade coating remarkably retaining their conductivity, electrochemical impedance, and morphological integrity even after 30 d in saline. Our extensive spectroscopic analysis reveals that the degradation of Ti3C2T x films in high-humidity environments is primarily driven by moisture intercalation, ingress, and film delamination, with evidence of only minimal to moderate oxidation.