Stabilizing MXene by Hydration Chemistry in Aqueous Solution

MXenes attract interest in diverse fields but suffer from fast structural degradation by attacking of dissolved oxygen and water molecules in aqueous solution. This drawback hinders the long-term storage, applications and understanding of the chemical nature of MXenes. Herein, we report a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way for long-term storage of MXenes in aqueous solution by hydration chemistry of nontoxic inorganic salts. The attacking of MXene by free water and dissolved oxygen molecules is inhibited by decreasing the water activity, which simultaneously lowers the dissolved oxygen concentration, of saline solution. As a result, the storage life of MXene can be prolonged to up to 400 days at ambient conditions without loss of intrinsic surface chemistry and bulk carrier properties. Over 90 % of salt protectant can be recycled by simply evaporating the final waste liquor after fully extracting the MXene to minimize the waste discharge and processing cost. This work offers a commercializable approach with high cost-effectiveness, processing sustainability and environmental benefit for extending the shelf life of MXenes.