Surface Functionalization of 2D MXenes: Trends in Distribution, Composition, and Electronic Properties

• Using a multiscale computational scheme, we study the trends in distribution and composition of the surface functional groups -O, -OH, and -F on two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes). We consider Ti2N, Ti4N3, Nb2C, Nb4C3, Ti2C, and Ti3C2 to explore MXenes with different chemistry and different number of atomic layers. Using a combination of cluster expansion, Monte Carlo, and density functional theory methods, we study the distribution and composition of functional groups at experimentally relevant conditions. We show that mixtures of functional groups are favorable on all studied MXene surfaces. The distribution of functional groups appears to be largely independent of the type of metal, carbon, or nitrogen species and/or number of atomic layers in the MXene. We further show that some properties (e.g., the work function) strongly depend on the surface composition, while others, for example, the electric conductivity, exhibit only a weak dependence.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Oorganisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Inorganic Chemistry (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

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