Issue

Vol. 16 (2024)

Tailoring MXene Thickness and Functionalization for Enhanced Room-Temperature Trace NO2 Sensing

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01316-x
Muhammad Hilal
Department of Physics, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
Woochul Yang
Department of Physics, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3726-2269
Yongha Hwang
Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7205-5957
Wanfeng Xie
Department of Physics, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea

Corresponding Author: Wanfeng Xie

wfxie@qdu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 16 (2024), Article Number: 84

Abstract

In this study, precise control over the thickness and termination of Ti3C2TX MXene flakes is achieved to enhance their electrical properties, environmental stability, and gas-sensing performance. Utilizing a hybrid method involving high-pressure processing, stirring, and immiscible solutions, sub-100 nm MXene flake thickness is achieved within the MXene film on the Si-wafer. Functionalization control is achieved by defunctionalizing MXene at 650 °C under vacuum and H2 gas in a CVD furnace, followed by refunctionalization with iodine and bromine vaporization from a bubbler attached to the CVD. Notably, the introduction of iodine, which has a larger atomic size, lower electronegativity, reduce shielding effect, and lower hydrophilicity (contact angle: 99°), profoundly affecting MXene. It improves the surface area (36.2 cm2 g−1), oxidation stability in aqueous/ambient environments (21 days/80 days), and film conductivity (749 S m−1). Additionally, it significantly enhances the gas-sensing performance, including the sensitivity (0.1119 Ω ppm−1), response (0.2% and 23% to 50 ppb and 200 ppm NO2), and response/recovery times (90/100 s). The reduced shielding effect of the –I-terminals and the metallic characteristics of MXene enhance the selectivity of I-MXene toward NO2. This approach paves the way for the development of stable and high-performance gas-sensing two-dimensional materials with promising prospects for future studies.


Highlights:
1 Gas-phase functionalization of X-MXene (X = –F, –OH, –O, –Br, –I) films crafted from sub-100 nm thin MXene flakes for highly sensitive NO2 sensors.
2 I-MXene-based senor exhibited significant sensing performances toward trace NO2 at room temperature.
3 The hydrophobicity, larger atomic size, lower electronegativity, and reduced shielding of -I contribute to the excellent sensing enhancement of I-MXene.

Keywords

Controlled MXene thickness Gaseous functionalization approach Lower electronegativity functional groups Enhanced MXene stability Trace NO2 sensing
Hilal, Muhammad, Woochul Yang, Yongha Hwang, and Wanfeng Xie. 2024. “Tailoring MXene Thickness and Functionalization for Enhanced Room-Temperature Trace NO2 Sensing”. Nano-Micro Letters 16 (January):84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01316-x.
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