Researchers have for the first time measured the true properties of individual MXene flakes—an exciting new nanomaterial with potential for better batteries, flexible electronics, and clean energy devices.
By using a novel light-based technique called spectroscopic micro-ellipsometry, they discovered how MXenes behave at the single-flake level, revealing changes in conductivity and optical response that were previously hidden when studying only stacked layers. This breakthrough provides the fundamental knowledge and tools needed to design smarter, more efficient technologies powered by MXenes.
MXenes are ultra-thin materials only a few atoms thick, celebrated for their ability to conduct electricity, store energy, and interact with light. Until now, however, most studies examined MXenes in bulk form—as thin films made up of many overlapping flakes. That approach, while useful, masked the unique properties of single flakes, leaving unanswered questions about their true potential.
The new study was led by Dr. Andreas Furchner from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), together with Dr. Ralfy Kenaz from the Hebrew University's (HUJI's) Institute of Physics—a strong collaboration between the research groups of Dr. Tristan Petit and Prof. Ronen Rapaport, respectively. It reveals, for the first time, how individual MXene flakes behave when isolated and studied at the nanoscale. The findings were recently published in ACS Nano.
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