About the structure, chemistry and stability of MXenes

The properties and tailoring ability of MXenes has inspired research efforts across the globe, and the number of researchers, publications and applications associated with these materials is steadily accelerating. Despite this enormous and collective effort, fundamental properties, related to the MXene structure and the surface terminations remain unexplored.

At Linköping University, we have explored the structure and chemistry of individual MXene sheets, since the very first MXene publication. The method of choice for this purpose is advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy methods with sub-atomic resolution.

In this talk I will review the current understanding of the structure, atomic defects and surface terminations. I will discuss which methods are available to generate, modify and tailor these through interaction with and exposure to the ambient environment. I will also review the current understanding of the stability of the structure, the surface chemistry, and how MXene interacts with water. For this I will provide in situ and ex situ results obtained using a number of different microscopy methods, microscopes, and special environmental holders.