Molybdenum Titanium Aluminum Carbide Mo₂Ti₂AlC₃ MAX Phase

MAX phases belong to ternary carbides and nitrides with layered hexagonal crystal structure. They are electrically and thermally conductive due to the metallic-like nature of their bonding. Mo₂Ti₂AlC₃ MAX Phase is a member of transition-metal based ternary carbides known as MAX phases, which are used as precursors for MXene. MAX phases are layered hexagonal crystal structures with a combination of properties that exhibit both metallic and ceramic characteristics under various conditions.

MAX phase powders are used as precursors for MXenes, which could be used as electrodes of rechargeable batteries and pseudo capacitors. A variety of surface chemistries, presence of transition metal oxides and high surface area, make MXene potentially attractive for catalytic applications. MAX phase material, Mo₂Ti₂AlC₃, can be used as a saturable absorber (SA) in ultrafast fiber laser. Experimentally it has been observed that Mo₂Ti₂AlC₃ MAX phases has higher power factor and much lower thermal conductivity than those of SiC thermoelectric ceramics indicating they can be an important application prospect in the field of thermoelectric generator and temperature sensor at ultra-high temperature.

Step-by-step for MXene preparation:

Selective Etching - Treat the Mo₂Ti₂AlC₃ powder with a strong acidic solution, commonly a mixture of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and lithium fluoride (LiF). The typical concentration is around 6.5 M HCl.


The acid selectively removes the aluminum layers, resulting in the formation of the MXene structure. Washing - After etching, thoroughly wash the resulting material with deionized water to remove any residual acids and byproducts. This step is crucial to ensure the purity of the MXene.


Drying - Dry the washed material in an oven or under vacuum to obtain the MXene in powder form.


Characterization - Characterize the obtained MXene using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to confirm the structure and morphology of the MXene.


Application Testing - Conduct tests to evaluate the electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, or other relevant characteristics of the synthesized MXene for its intended applications.


Following these steps will yield Mo₂Ti₂C MXene, which can be utilized in various applications like energy storage, sensors, and electromagnetic interference shielding.