MXene are two-dimensional (2D) layers of metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides, with the general
formula Mn+1XnTx where (n=1, 2, 3, and 4), and M being an Early Transition metal such as Sc, Ti, Zr,
Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, etc. X can be C, N, or both. The surface terminal groups Tx in the formula are
represented as -O, -OH, -F, -Cl, etc. In MXene n+1, n = 1, 2, 3, and 4. Variable bandgaps, metallic
electrical conductivity (0.5 × 104
-2.4 × 104 S cm-1
), optical transparency (> 90-97%), and adjustable
work function (~ 2.14 eV to ~5.65 eV) characteristics of MXene 2D morphology have all
been demonstrated to be very beneficial in a variety of optoelectronic devices applications [1].
Transparent conducting oxides (TCO), such as indium tin oxide (ITO), Fluoride- doped tin oxide
(FTO), and zinc oxide etc. are electrically conductive and highly transparent in visible range [2].
Although numerous transparent materials, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and conducting
polymers, have been investigated as flexible electrodes in optoelectronics, their practical application
has been constrained by poor electrical conductivity and incapability to broad band sensing. However,
MXene (Ti3C2Tx) films have a high work function (5.1 eV) and high electrical conductivity, both of
which may be easily altered by changing the surface composition [3]. Conventional materials do not
satisfy the requirement of broadband sensing to be used as mid-wave and low-wave IR sensors so our
approach is to explore 2D materials specially MXene since it is transparent and conducting with
variable bandgaps.
References:
1. Shahzad, Faisal, Aamir Iqbal, Hyerim Kim, and Chong Min Koo. "2D transition metal
carbides (MXenes): applications as an electrically conducting material." Advanced
Materials 32, no. 51 (2020): 2002159.
2. Gao, Jinwei, Krzysztof Kempa, Michael Giersig, Eser Metin Akinoglu, Bing Han, and Ruopeng Li.
"Physics of transparent conductors." Advances in Physics 65, no. 6 (2016): 553-617.
3. Ahn, Soyeong, Tae‐Hee Han, Kathleen Maleski, Jinouk Song, Young‐Hoon Kim, Min‐Ho Park, Huanyu
Zhou, Seunghyup Yoo, Yury Gogotsi, and Tae‐Woo Lee. "A 2D titanium carbide MXene flexible
electrode for high‐efficiency light‐emitting diodes." Advanced Materials 32, no. 23 (2020): 2000919.