| Abstract Scope |
MXenes have shown great promise as materials for capacitive energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, transparent electrodes, among many other applications. Understanding the exchange mechanisms in the interlayer space of MXenes is mandatory to exfoliate and obtain concentrated colloidal suspension of single or few nanosheets. A detailed study on cationic exchange mechanisms in Ti3C2Tz and the structural changes induced will be presented. Mostly by X-ray diffraction, we show that cationic exchange between H3O+ ions, on the one hand, and Li+, K+, or Mg2+, on the other, occurs reversibly. In this work, the link between the interlayer space distance and the nature of cation between Ti3C2Tz is established. Understanding the role of cations and anions during etching and washing MXenes provide new insight on the mechanism of exfoliation of MXenes. We will then show how this work can inspired research on other layered materials, composed of chalcogen elements (sulfur and selenium). |