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Titanium Carbide MXene Synthesis by Etching of Titanium Aluminum Carbide in Acetic Acid Solution

Gurzęda, Bartosz ; Boulanger, Nicolas ; Li, Gui ; Jørgensen, Mads Ry Vogel LU orcid ; Kantor, Innokenty LU ; Baburin, Igor ; Petre, Marta ; Enachescu, Marius and Talyzin, Alexandr V. (2026) In Small 22(26).
Abstract

Ti-MXene (Ti3C2Tz) is the most common member of a larger family of 2D materials widely explored due to a variety of possible applications. MXenes are mostly synthesized using strong acids like HF and HCl or using procedures that require elevated temperatures. Here, we present a new method for Ti3C2Tz preparation with a weak acid solution, which is more beneficial for mass production with reduced environmental impact. It is demonstrated that aluminum can be etched from titanium aluminum carbide (Ti3AlC2) using ammonium fluoride (NH4F) dissolved in an aqueous solution of acetic acid (CH3COOH). Optimization of the balance between... (More)

Ti-MXene (Ti3C2Tz) is the most common member of a larger family of 2D materials widely explored due to a variety of possible applications. MXenes are mostly synthesized using strong acids like HF and HCl or using procedures that require elevated temperatures. Here, we present a new method for Ti3C2Tz preparation with a weak acid solution, which is more beneficial for mass production with reduced environmental impact. It is demonstrated that aluminum can be etched from titanium aluminum carbide (Ti3AlC2) using ammonium fluoride (NH4F) dissolved in an aqueous solution of acetic acid (CH3COOH). Optimization of the balance between amounts of water and acetic acid in the etching solution allows for complete etching of Al atoms yielding partially nitrogen terminated MXene in addition to common –O/–OH and –F termination. The mechanism of MXene formation was investigated by the in situ synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (XRD), allowing characterization of “pristine” MXene structure forming directly in the process of Ti3AlC2 reaction with NH4F/CH3COOH. In situ XRD analysis also enables identification of the reaction byproducts, thus providing information about the mechanism of MXene formation.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
environmental friendly, in situ XRD, MXene synthesis, synchrotron, titanium aluminum carbide
in
Small
volume
22
issue
26
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:41814999
  • scopus:105032565458
ISSN
1613-6810
DOI
10.1002/smll.202514731
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
id
ab93d777-b882-42e5-9d95-a2a8ae86a5f9
date added to LUP
2026-05-07 14:00:07
date last changed
2026-08-29 05:11:29
@article{ab93d777-b882-42e5-9d95-a2a8ae86a5f9,
  abstract     = {{<p>Ti-MXene (T<sub>i3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>z</sub>) is the most common member of a larger family of 2D materials widely explored due to a variety of possible applications. MXenes are mostly synthesized using strong acids like HF and HCl or using procedures that require elevated temperatures. Here, we present a new method for Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>z</sub> preparation with a weak acid solution, which is more beneficial for mass production with reduced environmental impact. It is demonstrated that aluminum can be etched from titanium aluminum carbide (Ti<sub>3</sub>AlC<sub>2</sub>) using ammonium fluoride (NH<sub>4</sub>F) dissolved in an aqueous solution of acetic acid (CH<sub>3</sub>COOH). Optimization of the balance between amounts of water and acetic acid in the etching solution allows for complete etching of Al atoms yielding partially nitrogen terminated MXene in addition to common –O/–OH and –F termination. The mechanism of MXene formation was investigated by the in situ synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (XRD), allowing characterization of “pristine” MXene structure forming directly in the process of Ti<sub>3</sub>AlC<sub>2</sub> reaction with NH<sub>4</sub>F/CH<sub>3</sub>COOH. In situ XRD analysis also enables identification of the reaction byproducts, thus providing information about the mechanism of MXene formation.</p>}},
  author       = {{Gurzęda, Bartosz and Boulanger, Nicolas and Li, Gui and Jørgensen, Mads Ry Vogel and Kantor, Innokenty and Baburin, Igor and Petre, Marta and Enachescu, Marius and Talyzin, Alexandr V.}},
  issn         = {{1613-6810}},
  keywords     = {{environmental friendly; in situ XRD; MXene synthesis; synchrotron; titanium aluminum carbide}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{26}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Small}},
  title        = {{Titanium Carbide MXene Synthesis by Etching of Titanium Aluminum Carbide in Acetic Acid Solution}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smll.202514731}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/smll.202514731}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}