Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Carbides

In this chapter, the author reports on the synthesis of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and carbonitrides by immersing select MAX phase powders in hydrofluoric acid. The MAX phases represent a large family of ternary, layered, machinable transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides. Two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as graphene, are known to have unique properties that, in turn, can potentially lead to some promising applications. The purpose of this chapter is to show that indeed it is possible to exfoliate a number of chemically quite diverse, Al-containing MAX phases. In particular, tailoring surface functional groups of MXene 2-D layers presents itself as another variable for tuning their surface and electrical and electrochemical properties, like in graphene. Recently, the people showed that when Titanium Aluminum Carbide powders were immersed in HF, the Al layers were selectively extracted to yield 2-D Titanium Carbide layers terminated with OH and/F surface groups.