Environment-Sensitive Photoresponse of Spontaneously Partially Oxidized Ti₃C₂ MXene Thin Films

Abstract

A large family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) has increasingly raised interest for electronic and optoelectronic applications due to their high electrical conductivity, potentially tunable electronic structure, nonlinear optical properties, and ability to be manufactured in the thin film state. During delamination and storage in ambient air environment, spontaneous oxidation of MXene flakes leads to formation of titanium oxide, a process that, as we demonstrate here, can be harnessed for manufacturing MXene-titania composites for optoelectronics, sensing, and other applications. We show that partially oxidized MXene thin films containing the in situ formed phase of titanium oxide have a significant photoresponse in the UV region of the spectrum. The relaxation process of photoexcited charge carriers takes a long time (~24 h) but can be accelerated in the presence of oxygen and water vapor in the atmosphere. These properties of spontaneously formed MXene-titania thin films make them attractive materials for photoresistors with memory effect and sensitivity to the environment, as well as many other photo- and environment-sensing applications.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Second Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Research Center/Lab(s)

Center for High Performance Computing Research

Keywords and Phrases

MXene; photoresistors; photoresponse; sensors; Ti3C2; titanium oxide; two-dimensional materials

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1936-0851; 1936-086X

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2018 American Chemical Society (ACS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 2018

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