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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
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Published on: November 7, 2025
Misfortune Begets Fortune? Tailoring Facets in the MXene Oxidation Process for a Sensitive and Recyclable SERS
Xin Liu1,2,3, Yiting Sun1,2, Lijie Wang1,2
1Shenzhen Research Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Sanhang Science & Technology Building, No. 45th, Gaoxin South ninth Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen City518057, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Low SERS activity and poor environmental stability of MXenes limit their potential to become universal substrates comparable to noble metals. Herein, a crystal surface engineering technique that kills two birds with one stone is proposed. By customizing the exposed surface of TiO2 during the oxidation of Ti3C2 MXene, the hybrid Ti3C2-TiO2 substrate with a narrower bandgap and higher density of state was optimized. The stable lattice and heterostructure addressed the material's intrinsic susceptibility to oxidation (no signal drop over 180 days), while achieving a stronger charge transfer resonance effect (5.52 × 104 times higher than that of fresh Ti3C2). In addition, the Schottky barrier formed between Ti3C2 and TiO2 promotes the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, enabling the substrate to be recycled (the degradation rate of MeB was 92.7% at 80 min). This work provides guidance for utilizing crystal facet engineering to regulate the SERS performance of substrates.
