(386f) Synthesis of Water-Dispersible Ti3C2Tz Mxene Nanosheets By Molten Salt Etching

This study uses a molten salt (SnF₂) etching method to synthesize water-dispersible Ti₃C₂T_z (MXene) from the parent Ti₃AlC₂ MAX phase. The new approach avoids the use of hazardous HF for etching. The etched Ti₃C₂T_z clay was washed with KOH, intercalated with DMSO, washed with water, bath sonicated, and centrifuged. In this processing method resulted in a stable Ti₃C₂T_z nanosheet dispersion in water with a ζ potential of -31.7 mV. The treatment of Ti₃C₂T_z with KOH resulted in stable dispersion due to the addition of -OH terminal groups to Ti₃C₂T_z. X-ray diffraction and Electron microscopy confirms the formation of Ti₃C₂T_z clay with substantial d spacing when compared to the traditional HF-etched MXene. This work is the first to use molten salt etching to prepare colloidally stable aqueous dispersions of Ti₃C₂T_z nanosheets successfully. The Ti₃C₂T_z nanosheet film and clay produced by this method also show excellent specific and areal capacitance.