High-temperature stability and phase transformations of titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂T_x) MXene

Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, known as MXenes, are under increasing pressure to meet technological demands in high-temperature applications, MXenes can be considered one of the few ultra-high temperature 2D materials. Although there studies on stability their surface functionalities, is currently a gap fundamental understanding phase transformation MXenes’ carbide core at high temperatures (>700 °C) an inert environment. In this study, we conduct systematic annealing Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene films which present flake ordered vacancy superstructure bulk three-dimensional (3D) TiC y crystals 700 °C ⩽ 1000 with subsequent disordered carbon cubic higher ( > °C). We annealed made from delaminated single-flakes well multi-layer clay controlled environment through use situ hot stage x-ray diffraction (XRD) paired detector (XRD ) up ex tube furnace spark plasma sintering 1500 °C. Our XRD analysis cross-sectional scanning electron microscope imaging indicated resulting nano-sized lamellar micron-sized grain morphology 3D depend starting form. While creates grains irregular morphology, formed by single-flake keep morphology. The ultrathin nature >1000 pave way for applications stable material additive applications.