Addressing Reproducibility of MXene Synthesis Using Electrochemical and Chemical Treatment of Ti 3 AlC 2 With Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide

ABSTRACT Electrochemical etching of Ti 3 AlC 2 in an aqueous electrolyte consisting of 1 M NH 4 Cl and 0.2 M tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) is widely cited as a method to produce fluorine‐free MXene. However, an alternative method for producing MXene by purely chemical etching of Ti 3 AlC 2 with an aqueous TMAOH has also been reported. This in situ XRD study of Ti 3 AlC 2 etching revealed the absence of MXene after electrochemical treatment in NH 4 Cl/TMAOH electrolyte. However, the formation of MXene was detected after etching with both 0.2 M and 25% (2.8 M) TMAOH solutions using a freshly ground Ti 3 AlC 2 precursor. The interlayer distance of “pristine” MXene recorded in TMAOH solution was found to be significantly different (∼17.1Å) compared to that of water‐washed and dried MXene (∼15 Å) due to the effects of swelling. Incomplete conversion of the Ti 3 AlC 2 into MXene is likely related to the accumulation of reaction products. Reproducibility issues previously reported for chemical etching with TMAOH are likely related to the surface passivation layer, which can be disrupted by grinding the precursor Ti 3 AlC 2 powder. Moreover, MXene found in earlier published experiments with electrochemical treatment of Ti 3 AlC 2 could possibly form primarily due to a chemical reaction with TMAOH during etching and subsequent “washing” with more concentrated TMAOH.