Effect of simultaneous electrical and mechanical stressing on porosity of Ti₃C₂T _x MXene films

Abstract MXenes are atomically layered carbides and nitrides of transition metals that have potential for micro-devices applications in energy storage, conversion, transport. This emerging family materials is typically studied as nanosheets or ultra-thin films, which the internal defects mostly nanoscale flake-flake interface separation type. However, would require thicker exhibit very high density microscale pores. Electrical conductivity significantly lower than nanosheets, physics defect size control also different less understood. Current art to perform temperature annealing improve electrical conductivity, can structurally alter degrade MXene. The key contribution this study a room-temperature process exploits synergy between pulses compressive mechanical loading. Experimental results indicate over 90% increase reflects decrease void density. In absence loading, same resulted approximately 75%. Analytical spectroscopy microscopy indicated proposed multi-stimuli kept MXene composition intact while decreasing