We proposed a more realistic albeit slightly complicated multilayer Ti3C2Tx model and performed a comprehensive theoretical study of its structural and electronic properties. In this work, we constructed various multilayer Ti3C2Tx structures considering different concentrations of hydrofluoric acid (HF; 5, 10, and 48 wt%) as the etchant. The validity of our ternary mixed O/OH/F-terminated Ti3C2Tx multilayer models is confirmed by the consistency of the calculated d-spacing (9.60 ± 0.07 Å), simulated X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra and the predicted adhesion energy (0.77 ± 0.15 J m−2) with the reported experimental measurements. The uniform terminated and mixed terminated multilayer Ti3C2Tx exhibit metallic characteristics, similar to those of monolayer Ti3C2Tx. We found a stronger interaction between the interlayers with OH-rich ternary mixed terminated Ti3C2Tx surfaces, due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl groups and adjacent layers of F/O terminal groups as supported by the crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) calculation. From this finding, we propose that multilayer Ti3C2Tx etched with a strong HF acid could be easily exfoliated into monolayer sheets due to smaller adhesion energy. Based on this work, we believe that the current findings will offer a fundamental understanding and a useful baseline multilayer model for the future investigation of the hydrogen and ion storage and diffusion properties in the MXene multilayer application.
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First-principles study of MXene properties with varying hydrofluoric acid concentration
With varying hydrofluoric acid (HF) concentrations under three etching conditions, we presented a comparative study of the effects of both the ordered and randomly ternary mixed terminated Ti3C2Tx surfaces with a wide variation of O/OH/F stoichiometry on the thermodynamic stability and electronic properties. Regardless of the HF concentration, an OH-rich surface is found to be thermodynamically stable and the electrical conductivity of Ti3C2Tx is substantially affected by the OH concentration. The charge density difference and electron localization function demonstrated a significant electron localization at the hydroxyl group on the O/OH/F mixed terminated surface, which could yield a locally induced dipole on the surface that renders favorable reaction sites on the functionalized surface. In addition, a large tunability in the work function (ΔΦ ∼ 3.5 eV) is predicted for Ti3C2Tx. These findings provide a pathway for strategically tuning the electronic and structural properties of Ti3C2 MXenes etched with HF.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2117956
- PAR ID:
- 10548389
- Publisher / Repository:
- Cell Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- iScience
- Volume:
- 27
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 2589-0042
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 108784
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Inorganic chemistry, Interface science, Quantum chemistry
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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