Novel two-dimensional Ti3C2Tx MXenes/nano-carbon sphere hybrids for high-performance microwave absorption

Abstract

Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes are highly desirable as a microwave absorption material because of their unique two-dimensional (2D) laminated structure, native defects and surface functional groups (–OH and –F). However, the conductivity of Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes is too high to meet the requirement of impedance matching, which results in strong reflection and weak absorption. In order to enhance the microwave absorption of Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes, a novel 2D laminated structure of Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes/nano-carbon-sphere hybrids is designed and successfully prepared for the first time and the formation mechanism of the Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes/nano-carbon-sphere hybrids is discussed. In addition, the obtained 2D Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes/nano-carbon-sphere hybrids exhibit excellent microwave absorption performance, which is mainly attributed to the unique microstructure of the Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes/nano-carbon-sphere hybrids, and the formation of a heterogeneous interface structure, which plays an important role in microwave absorption. The Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes/nano-carbon-sphere hybrids exhibit an optimal reflection loss (RL) of −54.67 dB at 3.97 GHz. Thus, the Ti₃C₂T_x MXenes/nano-carbon-sphere hybrids are expected to be a candidate material for microwave absorption applications.