Selective Calixarene-Directed Synthesis of MXene Plates, Crumpled Sheets, Spheres, and Scrolls

5 years ago

Selective Calixarene-Directed Synthesis of MXene Plates, Crumpled Sheets, Spheres, and Scrolls

Tobias Heil, David J. Morgan, Gabija Maršalkaitė, Arni Vaughn, Jeremy Ball, Nicholas P. Power, Giulio I. Lampronti, Colin L. Raston, Suela Kellici

Fully exploiting the electronic and mechanical properties of 2D laminar materials not only requires efficient and effective means of their exfoliation into low dimensional layers, but also necessitates a means of changing their morphology so as to explore any enhancement that this may offer. MXenes are a rapidly emerging new class of such laminar materials with unique properties. However, access to other morphologies of MXenes has not yet been fully realised. To this end we have developed the synthesis of MXenes (Ti2C) as plates, crumpled sheets, spheres and scrolls, which involves selective intercalation of p-phosphonic calix[n]arenes, with control in morphology arising from the choice of the size of the macrocycle, n=4, 5, 6, or 8. This opens up wider avenues of discovery/design for new morphologies from the wider family of MXenes beyond Ti2C, along with opportunities to exploit any new physico-chemical properties proffered. MXenes are a rapidly emerging new class of laminar materials with unique properties. However, access to other morphologies of MXenes has not yet been fully realised. To this end a synthesis of MXenes (Ti2C) as plates, crumpled sheets, spheres, and scrolls, has been developed which involves selective intercalation of p-phosphonic calix[n]arenes, with control in morphology arising from the choice of the size of the macrocycle, n=4, 5, 6, or 8.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/chem.201701702