Photo-responsive Azobenzene-MXene hybrid and its optical modulated electrochemical effects

Abstract The 2D transition metal carbide (MXene) is a new type of promising material for energy storage due to its metallic conductivity and highly active surface. This paper describes a new photo-responsive Azo-MXene hybrid that is fabricated through electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged MXene and the cationic Azo-surfactants. After performing systematical characterizations, we found a strong electrostatic interaction force between the MXene and Azo-surfactants in this hybrid and a uniform distribution of Azo groups in the MXene structure. Notably, this Azo-MXene hybrid can self-assemble to an aggregated structure due to the hydrophobization of Azo on the surface of MXene. Furthermore, the self-assembly of this hybrid can be modulated by ultraviolet light irradiation. This process of transition is also responsible for the hybrid's electrochemical performance upon ultraviolet light irradiation, which may be applied as a photo-responsive conductive material for photo-energy conversion and storage devices.