MXenes (2D Carbides)

Two-dimensional inorganic compounds of transition metal carbides/nitrides.

Core Principles & Analysis

• They were discovered at Drexel University in 2011 by etching the aluminum layer out of the MAX phase Ti3AlC2 with hydrofluoric acid.
• Unusually for 2D materials, they pair metallic conductivity — Ti3C2Tx films exceed 20,000 S/cm — with hydrophilic, functionalized surfaces.
• A 45-micrometer Ti3C2Tx film demonstrated 92 dB of electromagnetic-interference shielding, among the best ever for a synthetic material that thin.

Specifications & Metrics

• DENSITY: 3.70 g/cm³ (Ti₃C₂Tₓ)
• YIELD STRENGTH: N/A
• HARDNESS: N/A