MXene-based photoacoustic transducer with a high-energy conversion efficiency

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Acoustics

Background:

• Two-dimensional transition metal carbide/nitride (MXene) materials possess unique electrical, optical, and structural properties.
• MXenes have found broad applications in optoelectronics, sustainable energy, and sensors.
• The photothermal properties of MXenes have not been extensively explored for photoacoustic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of MXene (Ti3C2Tx) as a photoacoustic transducer.
• To demonstrate the efficiency of a glass/MXene/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sandwich structure for photoacoustic generation.
• To leverage the photothermal effect of MXene for converting light into sound waves.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a sandwich structure using glass, Ti3C2Tx MXene, and PDMS.
• Irradiation of the structure with laser pulses to induce photothermal expansion.
• Measurement of generated ultrasonic waves and acoustic pressure.
• Characterization of the material's light absorption and photothermal conversion capabilities.

Main Results:

• The Ti3C2Tx MXene was successfully employed as a photoacoustic transducer for the first time.
• The fabricated transducer achieved an efficiency of 1.25 × 10⁻².
• A high acoustic pressure of 15.7 MPa was generated without acoustic focusing.
• The performance is attributed to the excellent light absorption and photothermal conversion of the Ti3C2Tx layer.

Conclusions:

• MXene (Ti3C2Tx) is a promising material for developing efficient photoacoustic transducers.
• The developed MXene/PDMS transducer demonstrates a viable method for generating high-intensity ultrasound from light.
• This work opens new avenues for MXene applications in photoacoustics and related fields.