MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x ) is a novel, two-dimensional (2D) layered material that is atomically thin, exhibits good mechanical strength , and is ideal for fabricating efficient membranes for molecular separation. However, the applications of MXene membranes are limited by their low water permeability owing to narrow channels and high tortuosity. A novel strategy for introducing artificial pores on the surface of MXene nanosheets via gentle in situ chemical etching with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) to prepare porous MXene nanosheets (PMS) is reported herein. This greatly increases the water permeability of MXene membranes while retaining the high rejection of small-molecule dyes. Permeable pores generated on MXene nanosheets transform the transport model of water molecules in the membrane from typical horizontal transport pathways dominated by interlayer channels to longitudinal–lateral three-dimensional transport pathways, affording increased water molecule transport channels and reduced transport distance. Based on different etching conditions, the obtained membranes exhibit high pure-water permeability ranging from 9.37 to 42.48 L m −2 h −1 bar −1 . Moreover, mild etching maintains the 2D structure of the membrane and retains a nearly complete rejection of congo red dye. This study provides a novel and effective strategy for preparing high-performance porous laminar MXene membranes for dye-separation applications.
Zhimin Fan,Youshan Wang,Zhimin Xie,Xueqing Xu,Yin Yuan,Zhongjun Cheng,Yuyan Liu
MXene films are attractive for use in advanced supercapacitor electrodes on account of their ultrahigh density and pseudocapacitive charge storage mechanism in sulfuric acid. However, the self-restacking of MXene nanosheets severely affects their rate capability and mass loading. Herein, a free-standing and flexible modified nanoporous MXene film is fabricated by incorporating Fe(OH)3 nanoparticles with diameters of 3–5 nm into MXene films and then dissolving the Fe(OH)3 nanoparticles, followed by low calcination at 200 °C, resulting in highly interconnected nanopore channels that promote efficient ion transport without compromising ultrahigh density. As a result, the modified nanoporous MXene film presents an attractive volumetric capacitance (1142 F cm−3 at 0.5 A g−1) and good rate capability (828 F cm−3 at 20 A g−1). Furthermore, it still displays a high volumetric capacitance of 749 F cm−3 and good flexibility even at a high mass loading of 11.2 mg cm−2. Therefore, this flexible and free-standing nanoporous MXene film is a promising electrode material for flexible, portable and compact storage devices. This study provides an efficient material design for flexible energy storage devices possessing high volumetric capacitance and good rate capability even at a high mass loading.