Titanium Dioxide Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties, Modifications, and Applications

The family of 2D transition metal carbides, carbonitrides and nitrides (collectively referred to as MXenes) has expanded rapidly since the discovery of Ti3C2 in 2011. The materials reported so far always have surface terminations, such as hydroxyl, oxygen or fluorine, which impart hydrophilicity to their surfaces. About 20 different MXenes have been synthesized, and the structures and properties of dozens more have been theoretically predicted. The availability of solid solutions, the control of surface terminations and a recent discovery of multi-transition-metal layered MXenes offer the potential for synthesis of many new structures. The versatile chemistry of MXenes allows the tuning of properties for applications including energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, reinforcement for composites, water purification, gas- and biosensors, lubrication, and photo-, electro- and chemical catalysis. Attractive electronic, optical, plasmonic and thermoelectric properties have also been shown. In this Review, we present the synthesis, structure and properties of MXenes, as well as their energy storage and related applications, and an outlook for future research. More than twenty 2D carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of transition metals (MXenes) have been synthesized and studied, and dozens more predicted to exist. Highly electrically conductive MXenes show promise in electrical energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, electrocatalysis, plasmonics and other applications.

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2D metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) for energy storage

Recently a new, large family of two-dimensional (2D) early transition metal carbides and carbonitrides, called MXenes, was discovered. MXenes are produced by selective etching of the A element from the MAX phases, which are metallically conductive, layered solids connected by strong metallic, ionic, and covalent bonds, such as Ti2AlC, Ti3AlC2, and Ta4AlC3. MXenes ­combine the metallic conductivity of transition metal carbides with the hydrophilic nature of their hydroxyl or oxygen terminated surfaces. In essence, they behave as “conductive clays”. This article reviews progress—both ­experimental and theoretical—on their synthesis, structure, properties, intercalation, delamination, and potential applications. MXenes are expected to be good candidates for a host of applications. They have already shown promising performance in electrochemical energy storage systems. A detailed outlook for future research on MXenes is also presented.

25th Anniversary Article: MXenes: A New Family of Two‐Dimensional Materials

Safe and powerful energy storage devices are becoming increasingly important. Charging times of seconds to minutes, with power densities exceeding those of batteries, can in principle be provided by electrochemical capacitors--in particular, pseudocapacitors. Recent research has focused mainly on improving the gravimetric performance of the electrodes of such systems, but for portable electronics and vehicles volume is at a premium. The best volumetric capacitances of carbon-based electrodes are around 300 farads per cubic centimetre; hydrated ruthenium oxide can reach capacitances of 1,000 to 1,500 farads per cubic centimetre with great cyclability, but only in thin films. Recently, electrodes made of two-dimensional titanium carbide (Ti3C2, a member of the 'MXene' family), produced by etching aluminium from titanium aluminium carbide (Ti3AlC2, a 'MAX' phase) in concentrated hydrofluoric acid, have been shown to have volumetric capacitances of over 300 farads per cubic centimetre. Here we report a method of producing this material using a solution of lithium fluoride and hydrochloric acid. The resulting hydrophilic material swells in volume when hydrated, and can be shaped like clay and dried into a highly conductive solid or rolled into films tens of micrometres thick. Additive-free films of this titanium carbide 'clay' have volumetric capacitances of up to 900 farads per cubic centimetre, with excellent cyclability and rate performances. This capacitance is almost twice that of our previous report, and our synthetic method also offers a much faster route to film production as well as the avoidance of handling hazardous concentrated hydrofluoric acid.

Conductive two-dimensional titanium carbide ‘clay’ with high volumetric capacitance

Since the discovery of mechanically exfoliated graphene in 2004, research on ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the fields of condensed matter physics, material science, chemistry, and nanotechnology. Highlighting their compelling physical, chemical, electronic, and optical properties, as well as their various potential applications, in this Review, we summarize the state-of-art progress on the ultrathin 2D nanomaterials with a particular emphasis on their recent advances. First, we introduce the unique advances on ultrathin 2D nanomaterials, followed by the description of their composition and crystal structures. The assortments of their synthetic methods are then summarized, including insights on their advantages and limitations, alongside some recommendations on suitable characterization techniques. We also discuss in detail the utilization of these ultrathin 2D nanomaterials for wide ranges of potential applications among the electronics/optoelectronics, electrocat...

Recent Advances in Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

The phenomenon of a partial 2H\rightarrow1T phase transition within multiwalled WS2 nanotubes under substitutional Rhenium doping is discovered by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Using density-functional calculations for the related MoS2 compound we consider a possible origin of this phase transition, which was known formerly only for WS2 and MoS2 intercalated by alkali metals. An interplay between the stability of layered or nanotubular forms of 2H and 1T allotropes is found to be intimately related with their electronic structures and electro-donating ability of an impurity.

New route for stabilization of 1T-WS2 and MoS2 phases

Graphene allotropes: Graphene allotropes

The phenomenon of a partial 2H→1T phase transition within multiwalled WS2 nanotubes under substitutional rhenium doping is discovered by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Using density-functional tight-binding calculations for the related MoS2 compound, we consider a possible origin of this phase transition, which was known formerly only for WS2 and MoS2 intercalated by alkali metals. An interplay between the stability of layered or nanotubular forms of 2H and 1T allotropes is found to be intimately related with their electronic structures and electro-donating ability of an impurity.

New Route for Stabilization of 1T-WS2 and MoS2 Phases

Halloysite is a clay mineral with stoichiometry Al2Si2O5(OH)4·nH2O that can grow into long tubules and is chemically similar to kaolinite. In this work we present a systematic study on the stability, electronic, and mechanical properties of zigzag and armchair single-walled halloysite nanotubes by means of the self-consistent charge density-functional tight-binding method (SCC-DFTB). The detailed analysis is focused on structural properties, strain energy, and band gap as a function of tube radii and Mulliken charge distribution. The strain energy of halloysite nanotubes does not have a monotonic character and the most stable structures should be observed in the region of radii above 24 A, in agreement with experimental data. Analysis of the electronic density of states shows that all tubes are insulators. Our calculations predict that single-walled halloysite nanotubes have Young modulus in the same order of imogolite and inorganic nanotubes, but smaller than that of carbon nanotubes. Even though most of...

Structural, Electronic, and Mechanical Properties of Single-Walled Halloysite Nanotube Models

The properties of MXenes, a new group of quasi-2D d-metal carbide or nitride nanomaterials derived from the MAX phases by chemical exfoliation, can be very sensitive to the presence of surface functional groups. Herein, the MXenes Ti2C and Ti3C2 functionalized by methoxy groups are considered by means of the density functional theory tight-binding method. Their structural and electronic properties and relative stability are discussed in comparison with related and experimentally fabricated hydroxy derivatives of MXenes.

Andrey N. Enyashin

Papers

New route for stabilization of 1T-WS2 and MoS2 phases

Graphene allotropes: Graphene allotropes

New Route for Stabilization of 1T-WS2 and MoS2 Phases

Structural, Electronic, and Mechanical Properties of Single-Walled Halloysite Nanotube Models

Structural and Electronic Properties and Stability of MXenes Ti2C and Ti3C2 Functionalized by Methoxy Groups