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Highly Conductive Optical Quality Solution‐Processed Films of 2D Titanium Carbide
Author(s) -
Dillon Andrew D.,
Ghidiu Michael J.,
Krick Alex L.,
Griggs Justin,
May Steven J.,
Gogotsi Yury,
Barsoum Michel W.,
Fafarman Aaron T.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201600357
Subject(s) - materials science , mxenes , conductivity , titanium carbide , nanometre , nitride , plasmon , carbide , optoelectronics , optical conductivity , infrared , graphene , silicon carbide , nanomaterials , electrical conductor , nanotechnology , composite material , optics , condensed matter physics , layer (electronics) , chemistry , physics
MXenes comprise a new class of solution‐dispersable, 2D nanomaterials formed from transition metal carbides and nitrides such as Ti 3 C 2 . Here, it is shown that 2D Ti 3 C 2 can be assembled from aqueous solutions into optical quality, nanometer thin films that, at 6500 S cm −1 , surpass the conductivity of other solution‐processed 2D materials, while simultaneously transmitting >97% of visible light per‐nanometer thickness. It is shown that this high conductivity is due to a metal‐like free‐electron density as well as a high degree of coplanar alignment of individual nanosheets achieved through spincasting. Consequently, the spincast films exhibit conductivity over a macroscopic scale that is comparable to the intrinsic conductivity of the constituent 2D sheets. Additionally, optical characterization over the ultraviolet‐to‐near‐infrared range reveals the onset of free‐electron plasma oscillations above 1130 nm. Ti 3 C 2 is therefore a potential building block for plasmonic applications at near‐infrared wavelengths and constitutes the first example of a new class of solution‐processed, carbide‐based 2D optoelectronic materials.