Fabrication of Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene/borosilicate glass with enhanced fracture toughness

In this study, we investigated the incorporation of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) in glass materials. Ti3C2 MXene was successfully incorporated into borosilicate glass by spark plasma sintering. The addition of 1 vol % MXene nanoplatelets to the borosilicate glass resulted in them being homogenously distributed in the glass matrix. The addition of 2 vol % MXene nanoplatelets, however resulted in a coarser distribution. The fracture toughness of the glass samples with 0, 1 and 2 vol % MXene were 0.94, 1.36, and 1.21 MPa m1/2, respectively. The enhanced fracture toughness of borosilicate glass with Ti3C2 MXene is ascribed to crack deflection, crack bridging, and pull-out of Ti3C2 MXene.