MXene core-shell nanostructures with enhanced conductivity and stability

Abstract MXene, a novel two-dimensional material, can be used in a broad range of photoelectricity applications, such as electrooptic modulators, photodetectors and ironic batteries, and the conductivity and stability of MXene are both critical in these applications. However, The enhanced properties can be achieved via MXene modification, such as inserted irons into the interlayer of MXene, or formed complex materials by taking advantage of the active group on the surface of MXene. In this work, a core-shell nanostructure composed of Ti3C2 (MXene) and gold nanoparticles was obtained with a simple and controllable method, and the increase in conductivity and stability were both investigated. The optical measurement results suggested that the photoelectric interaction between the gold nanoparticles and Ti3C2 materials was fully utilized when assembled together in a core-shell nanostructure. Additionally, the electric measurement results showed that the resistance of the Ti3C2 material was distinctly reduced after the formation of the Ti3C2@Au core-shell nanostructure, with the maximum 20% decrease in resistance being achieved when the core-shell nanostructures were around 107 nm with gold shell of 7 nm, excited by a voltage of 2 V. In addition, compared with the pure Ti3C2 materials, the Ti3C2@Au core-shell nanostructures showed good long-term stability due to the antioxidation effect of the gold shell nanostructure. Therefore, this study paves the way toward the use of MXene-based materials in optoelectrical applications.