Electronic and Optical Properties of 2D Transition Metal Carbides and Nitrides (MXenes)

Intercalation and delamination of two-dimensional solids in many cases is a requisite step for exploiting their unique properties. Herein we report on the intercalation of two-dimensional Ti3C2, Ti3CN and TiNbC-so called MXenes. Intercalation of hydrazine, and its co-intercalation with N,N-dimethylformamide, resulted in increases of the c-lattice parameters of surface functionalized f-Ti3C2, from 19.5 to 25.48 and 26.8 Å, respectively. Urea is also intercalated into f-Ti3C2. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that a hydrazine monolayer intercalates between f-Ti3C2 layers. Hydrazine is also intercalated into f-Ti3CN and f-TiNbC. When dimethyl sulphoxide is intercalated into f-Ti3C2, followed by sonication in water, the f-Ti3C2 is delaminated forming a stable colloidal solution that is in turn filtered to produce MXene 'paper'. The latter shows excellent Li-ion capacity at extremely high charging rates.

New two-dimensional niobium and vanadium carbides have been synthesized by selective etching, at room temperature, of Al from Nb2AlC and V2AlC, respectively. These new matrials are promising electrode materials for Li-ion batteries, demonstrating good capability to handle high charge-discharge rates. Reversible capacities of 170 and 260 mA·h·g(-1) at 1 C, and 110 and 125 mA·h·g(-1) at 10 C were obtained for Nb2C and V2C-based electrodes, respectively.