In 2011, the revolutionary MXene emerged as a two-dimensional nanomaterial boasting a distinctive structure featuring alternating metal and carbon layers. Its remarkable traits include exceptional electrical conductivity and the ability to form alloys with a variety of metal compounds. These attributes render MXene invaluable across diverse industries, encompassing semiconductors, electronic devices, and sensors.
The effective utilization of MXene hinges on a deep understanding of the nature and concentration of molecules adorning its surface. Notably, when fluorine molecules are prevalent on this surface, electrical conductivity dwindles, and electromagnetic wave shielding efficiency diminishes. Nevertheless, due to its infinitesimal 1nm thickness, analyzing surface molecules, even with advanced electron microscopes, demands several days, rendering mass production an elusive goal.
A groundbreaking approach has been forged by a research team, spearheaded by Seung-Cheol Lee, the director of the Indo-Korea Science and Technology Center (IKST) at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). Their innovation capitalizes on the magnetoresistance properties of MXene to predict the distribution of surface molecules. The findings have been published in the journal Nanoscale.
This novel method enables the swift measurement of molecular distributions on MXene surfaces, ushering in the possibility of streamlined quality control in the production process. It paves the way for mass production, a previously insurmountable challenge.
The research team has crafted a predictive program for two-dimensional material properties, predicated on the idea that electrical conductivity and magnetic characteristics evolve contingent on surface molecules. They harnessed this program to calculate MXene’s magnetic transport properties and successfully analyzed the type and concentration of adsorbed surface molecules under standard atmospheric pressure and room temperature, sans the need for additional apparatus.
The application of this program unveiled a stark variation in the Hall scattering factor, a vital physical constant that characterizes the charge-carrying attributes of semiconductor materials, contingent upon the type of surface molecules. Remarkably, the Hall Scattering Factor recorded its zenith at 2.49 for fluorine, plummeted to 0.5 for oxygen, and stabilized at 1 for hydroxide, facilitating precise molecule distribution analysis.
The Hall scattering coefficient’s versatility transcends the value of 1, offering prospects for high-performance transistors, high-frequency generators, efficient sensors, and photodetectors when it falls below 1, and applications in thermoelectric materials and magnetic sensors when it exceeds 1. Given MXene’s diminutive size, measuring a mere few nanometers or less, the potential exists to significantly shrink device dimensions and power consumption.
Seung-Cheol Lee, the director of IKST, remarked, “Unlike previous studies centered on the synthesis and inherent properties of pure MXene, this investigation holds profound significance by introducing an innovative surface molecular analysis technique to streamline the categorization of manufactured MXene. We anticipate that this achievement, when combined with empirical research, will enable precise control over the MXene production process, ensuring the mass production of consistently high-quality MXene.”
Established in 2010, the Indo-Korea Science and Technology Center (IKST) conducts pioneering research in the realms of computational science, encompassing theory, source code development, and software engineering. Of particular note, source code represents a programming language that enacts algorithms designed for modeling and simulation, a domain recognized as an original research frontier within computational science. The center actively collaborates with esteemed Indian universities and research institutions, including IIT Bombay, to advance source code development and computational science research.