MXenes: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Christopher E. Shuck, PhD
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Abstract: MXenes are potentially the largest class of 2D materials discovered so far. With a general formula of Mn+1XnTx, M is an early transition metal (Ti, V, Nb, Ta, etc.), X is C and/or N, Tx represents the surface groups (-O, -OH, -F, -Cl), and n = 1–4, over 30 stoichiometric phases have already been discovered, with many more predicted computationally. This class of materials has been widely studied owing to their exceptional properties, including hydrophilicity, scalability, mechanical strength, thermal stability, redox capability, and ease of processing. Because MXenes inherit their structure from Mn+1AXn (MAX) phase precursors, understanding MAX phase synthesis leads to control over flake size, defect density, and chemical composition of the resultant MXene. One understudied, yet important class of MXenes are solid-solution MXenes, where multiple elements are randomly distributed within the M layers. Herein, a set of multi-M chemistries (Mo, V, Ti, Nb, Ta) are used to study the effect of structure and chemistry on MXenes. While solid-solution MXenes have unique and tunable chemical, optical, and electronic properties, they also enable the formation of novel MXenes that cannot exist otherwise. By choosing specific chemistries, we can then begin to understand fundamental aspects of MXene chemistry and structure.

Biography: Dr. Christopher E. Shuck is currently an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology department at Rutgers University. He received his Ph.D. in 2018 from the University of Notre Dame in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and B.S.E. in 2013 from Princeton University in Chemical and Biological Engineering. He received numerous awards for his work, including the Fulbright Scholarship in 2016. He was a research assistant professor at the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute, Drexel University until 2023. His research interests include chemical kinetics, materials synthesis, and 2D materials. Christopher’s work has led to a direct change in the definition of both MAX phases and MXenes (Discovery of M5AX4 and M5X4Tx MXene), he has pioneered work into solid-solution MXenes, and has applied MXene work into many fields, including electrochemical energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, and biomedicine.