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Published on: February 12, 2020
Phonon-Dominated In-Plane Thermal Conductivity of Single-Flake Metallic Ti3C2Tx MXene
Max C van Hemert1, Hugh Ramsden1, Stefano Ippolito2
1Department of Applied Physics and Science Education, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, Eindhoven, 5612AZ, The Netherlands.
Phonons, not just electrons, significantly impact heat transport in Ti3C2Tx MXene, a 2D material. This study reveals an unconventional balance of heat and charge transport properties in these promising materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- MXenes are advanced 2D materials with diverse applications, including energy storage and thermal management.
- Understanding thermal transport in MXenes is crucial, but the dominant heat carriers (electrons vs. phonons) and their conductivity remain unclear.
- Existing experimental data on in-plane thermal conductivity of MXenes show significant variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in-plane heat transport mechanisms in single Ti3C2Tx MXene flakes.
- To determine the relative contributions of electrons and phonons to thermal conductivity.
- To elucidate the unconventional heat and charge transport properties of Ti3C2Tx MXene.
Main Methods:
- Utilized spatiotemporal microscopy for direct, real-time visualization of heat transport.
- Measured in-plane thermal diffusivity of single Ti3C2Tx MXene flakes.
- Estimated electronic conductivity using terahertz measurement data.
Main Results:
- Obtained a thermal diffusivity of 0.05 cm2 s-1 for Ti3C2Tx MXene.
- Calculated an in-plane thermal conductivity of 13-16 W m-1 K-1.
- Determined that electrons contribute at most 50% of the total heat transport.
Conclusions:
- Phonons play a significant role in the heat transport of Ti3C2Tx MXene, despite its metallic nature.
- Ti3C2Tx MXene exhibits an unconventional combination of heat and charge transport properties.
- This research provides critical insights into the thermal behavior of 2D MXene materials.
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