Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and/or nitrides (MXenes) are a new class of 2D materials, with extensive opportunities for property tailoring due to the numerous possibilities for varying chemistries and surface terminations. Here, Ti2AlC and Nb2AlC MAX phase epitaxial thin films were deposited on sapphire substrates by physical vapor deposition. The films were then etched in LiF/HCl solutions, yielding Li-intercalated, 2D Ti2CTz and Nb2CTz films, whose terminations, transport and optical properties were characterized. The former exhibits metallic conductivity, with weak localization below 50 K. In contrast, the Nb-based film exhibits an increase in resistivity with decreasing temperature from RT down to 40K consistent with variable range hopping transport. The optical properties of both films were determined from spectroscopic ellipsometry in the 0.75 to 3.50 eV range. The results for Ti2Clz films confirm the metallic behavior. In contrast, no evidence of metallic behavior is observed for the Nb2CT(z) film. The present work therefore demonstrates that one fruitful approach to alter the electronic and optical properties of MXenes is to change the nature of the transition metal.
Electronic and optical characterization of 2D Ti2C and Nb2C (MXene) thin films
Creators
Joseph Halim - Linköping University
Ingemar Persson - Linköping University
Eun Ju Moon - State University of New York
Philipp Kuhne - Linköping University
Vanya Darakchieva - Linköping University
Per O. A. Persson - Linkoping Univ, Thin Film Phys Div, Dept Phys Chem & Biol IFM, SE-58183 Linkoping, Sweden
Per Eklund - Linköping University
Johanna Rosen - Linköping University
Michel W. Barsoum - Drexel University
Publication Details
Journal of physics. Condensed matter, Vol.31(16), pp.165301-165301
Publisher
Iop Publishing Ltd
Number of pages
9
Grant note
EM16-0004; FL12-0181; RIF 14-0074; RIF14-055 / Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF); Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
2009 00971 / Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU)
642-2013-8020; 621-2014-4890; 2016-04412; 2016-00889 / Swedish Research Council; European Commission
Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) Foundation; Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation
Resource Type
Journal article
Language
English
Academic Unit
Materials Science and Engineering
Identifiers
991019167785304721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Physics, Condensed Matter
Research Home Page
Browse by research and academic units
Learn about the ETD submission process at Drexel
Learn about the Libraries’ research data management services