Energy-efficient synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene for electromagnetic shielding

Traditional methods for synthesizing two-dimensional Ti 3 C 2 T x MXenes such as hydrofluoric acid (HF) or LiF/HCl based etching can be time-consuming, complex, and often result in low yields. They generally involve multi-step processes involving >40 h of preparation time that can expose the materials to harsh conditions. In this study, we demonstrate a rapid single-step microwave (MW) synthesis method that significantly reduces production time to 90 min, achieving a 90 % yield and cutting energy consumption by 75 %. For the first time, synchrotron x-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis conducted on MW-synthesized MXene (MW-Ti 3 C 2 T x ) indicates greater structural fidelity in local atomic ordering, indicating high-quality which is comparable to conventionally synthesized counterparts (CO-Ti 3 C 2 T x ). This method achieves similar or greater structural quality in less time while also enhancing electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI SE) performance. A 15 μm MW-Ti 3 C 2 T x film demonstrated an impressive EMI SE of ∼67 dB in the X-band, compared to the ∼63 dB achieved by CO-Ti 3 C 2 T x . The enhanced EMI SE performance is attributed to the presence of fluorine terminations, which provide oxidation resistance, increased conductivity and improved absorption of EM waves. The MW-induced shocks during irradiation not only help remove O 2 /OH groups, preventing oxidation, but also tunes the functional groups, enhancing charge transport and effective EM wave attenuation. The MW synthesis method presents a fast, efficient, and scalable approach for producing high-quality MXene nanosheets, paving the way for advancements in EMI shielding and other applications. • Rapid MW synthesis of high-quality Ti 3 C 2 T X MXenes in under 90 minutes achieves 90% yield, and 75% less energy consumption. • Synchrotron Pair distribution analysis confirms high atomic ordering and structural fidelity compared to conventional MXene. • MW- Ti 3 C 2 T X films exhibit outstanding EMI SE of around 67 dB in the X-band. • Enhanced dielectric losses and conductivity in MW-MXenes due to increased interlayer spacing and fluorine terminations. • Scalable MW-synthesis method for MXenes eliminates the need for exfoliation or delamination.