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Metal Ion Release Assembly: A Versatile Strategy for Scalable and Tunable 2D-Material Coatings.
Joshua M Little1, Shuo Li2, Yang Li1
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States.
ACS Nano
|September 26, 2025
Summary
A new Metal Ion Release Assembly (MIRA) method enables scalable, thick coatings of two-dimensional materials (2DMs) on complex surfaces. This technique uses a hydrogel to control ion release, facilitating uniform 2DM assembly for applications like energy storage and shielding.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Two-dimensional materials (2DMs) possess unique properties but face challenges in scalable, uniform coating production on diverse substrates.
- Existing methods struggle to create thick, conformal coatings essential for advanced applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a scalable and versatile method for fabricating thick, uniform coatings of 2DMs on complex surfaces.
- To demonstrate the Metal Ion Release Assembly (MIRA) strategy for controlled electrostatic assembly of 2DMs.
Main Methods:
- Introduced the Metal Ion Release Assembly (MIRA) strategy using a metal ion-loaded gelatin hydrogel as a controlled release platform.
- Applied MIRA with graphene oxide, Ti3C2Tx MXene, and montmorillonite nanosheets using spin coating, dip coating, and doctor blading.
- Utilized interference reflection microscopy and a diffusion-limited analytical model to analyze coating formation and thickness.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated Mn+-2DM multilayer coatings from ~1 μm to >20 μm thickness by tuning Mn+ concentration and immersion time.
- Demonstrated scalability by producing large-area (~400 cm2) conformal coatings on curved and cylindrical surfaces.
- Achieved comparable electrochemical performance in MXene electrodes fabricated via MIRA to pristine electrodes.
Conclusions:
- MIRA provides a tunable, additive-free, and scalable platform for producing thick 2DM coatings on various substrates.
- The method shows significant potential for applications in sensing, electromagnetic shielding, and corrosion protection.
