Nanocrystalline TiO₂/Ti₃C₂T MXene composites with a tunable work function prepared using atmospheric pressure oxygen...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXene composites offer combined photocatalytic and conductive properties.
• Conventional high-temperature synthesis methods limit applications in flexible and printed electronics.
• Low-temperature processing is crucial for temperature-sensitive substrates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-temperature method for synthesizing TiO2/Ti3C2 MXene composites.
• To investigate the formation mechanism and characteristics of TiO2 nanoparticles on Ti3C2 MXene surfaces using oxygen plasma.
• To assess the suitability of the synthesized composites for flexible and printed electronics.

Main Methods:

• Low-temperature dielectric barrier discharge with high-power-density oxygen plasma.
• Treatment of Ti3C2 MXene surfaces with oxygen plasma.
• Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ab initio modeling, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• Crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles formed on Ti3C2 MXene surfaces within seconds of plasma exposure.
• Plasma treatment induced morphological changes and oxidized MXene surfaces.
• Anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were observed, with growth and a transition to rutile upon prolonged treatment.
• The process maintained a temperature below 70 °C.

Conclusions:

• The oxygen plasma method enables rapid, low-temperature synthesis of TiO2/Ti3C2 MXene composites.
• The process is suitable for producing materials for temperature-sensitive applications, particularly in flexible and printed electronics.
• This approach offers a viable alternative to high-temperature synthesis for advanced electronic materials.