Structural and morphological characterization of the layered carbide-derived-carbon nanostructures obtained by HF etching of Ti2AlC

Abstract

In this study, we report a simple method for the synthesis of layered carbide-derived carbon (CDC) nanostructures by immersion of the Ti2AlC MAX phase powder in hydrofluoric acid (HF) solutions. The Ti2AlC MAX phase powders were synthesized by the ball-milling of the titanium, aluminum, and carbon powders. Then, the as-synthesized powders were immersed in the different concentrations of HF solutions (10 and 40 wt.%) at different times (2, 24, and 48 h). Results showed that the titanium and aluminum were extracted from the structure of Ti2AlC MAX phase by immersion in the HF solution. The structural and morphological investigation of the obtained CDCs were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). FESEM images proved the formation of the layered morphologies of the CDC nanostructures achieved after etching of the Ti2AlC MAX phase powder in HF solution. XRD and Raman spectroscopy results were in good agreement with the FESEM images. Also, results indicated that lower concentration of HF solution was more proper for the production of the layered CDC nanostructures, compared to the higher concentration of HF solution.