MXenes

American Elements manufactures MXene compositions under the trademark AE MXenes™. AE MXenes are a novel type of two-dimensional (2D) ceramic material composed of layered nitrides, carbides, or carbonitrides of transition metals. Precursors to the synthesis of MXenes are ternary MAX phase compounds with the formula M_n+1AX_n, where M is a transition metal, A is an element such as aluminum or silicon, and X is either carbon or nitrogen, with n=1, 2, or 3. Producing the 2D MXene from the bulk three dimensional MAX phase compound involves exfoliation or etching to selectively remove the A layer, resulting in layers which can be separated by other ions (known as intercalation) which can enhance their properties.

AE MXenes have a wide variety of compositions, and researchers are discovering new compositions and synthesis avenues on a regular basis. MXenes are notable for their properties that combine aspects of both metals and ceramics. These include excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, heat resistance, easy machinability, and excellent volumetric capacitance, having the highest EMI shielding effectiveness of all similar synthetic 2D materials, and hydrophobic natures due to various surface functional groups.

AE MXenes have applications in advanced battery and energy storage technologies such as lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and supercapacitors, water purification, electromagnetic shielding, photocatalysis, gas sensors, optoelectronics, polymer nanocomposite fillers, and conductive coatings. In many cases MXenes have been shown to outperform other 2D materials such as graphene.