Young Investigator Group Nanoscale Solid-Liquid Interfaces

Materials

While we characterize a large range of nanomaterials, our synthesis activity focuses on 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, so-called MXenes. MXenes are layered 2D materials that have shown outstanding properties for energy applications. MXenes are particularly interesting as a model pseudocapacitive materials because they combine a highly conductive carbide (or nitride) core with an electrochemically active transition metal surface that can be finely tuned. In addition, their layered structure with hydrophilic (hydrophobic) surface groups facilitates the confinement of aqueous (organic) electrolytes within nanometre scaled interlayer spaces that allow the investigation of ion desolvation in confined 2D slits.

We are currently primarily synthesizing Ti₃C₂T_x MXene, which is the most stable MXene so far, and are especially interested in understanding the role of its surface chemistry in pseudocapacitive electrochemical energy storage mechanisms. We also explore the synthesis and delamination of M₂XT_x MXenes (especially V₂CT_x and Ti₂CT_x), using spectroscopy to monitor their stability towards oxidation and hydrolysis. Additionally, we investigate the impact of MXene morphology from delaminated single flakes to few- and multi-layered MXenes particles in thin films on surface chemistry and reactivity of MXene particles. We control the MXene surface chemistry using wet-chemical or molten salt etching methods, as well as post-etching functionalization. We are also interested in the characterization of the electronic and optical properties of more exotic MXenes provided through collaborations.

We are sharing fully equipped chemical labs dedicated to the synthesis of MXene with controlled surface chemistry and related composites with the CE-NESD group.