Publications
Prof. Zonghoon Lee’s Atomic-Scale Electron Microscopy Lab
Prof. Zonghoon Lee’s Atomic-Scale Electron Microscopy Lab
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Publications in Nature | Science | their sister journals
Nature Materials, 24, 1507–1508, 2025 / Science Advances, 10 (45), 2024 / Nature, 629, 348-354,2024 / Nature Communications, 14:4747, 2023 / Nature Communications, 13:4916, 2022 / Nature Communications, 13:2759, 2022 / Nature, 596, 519-524, 2021 / Nature, 582, 511-514, 2020 / Nature Nanotechnology, 15, 289-295, 2020 / Nature Nanotechnology, 15, 59-66, 2020 / Science Advances, 6 (10), 2020 / Nature Electronics, 3, 207-215, 2020 / Nature Communications, 11 (1437), 2020 / Nature Energy, 3, 773-782, 2018 / Nature Communications, 8:1549, 2017 / Nature Communications, 6:8294, 2015 / Nature Communications, 6:7817, 2015 / Nature Communications, 5:3383, 2014
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) nitride MXenes are predicted to exhibit exceptional metallic properties and high polarity; however, their synthesis remains challenging. Research has relied on traditional molten salt etching, highlighting the need for a scalable, high-purity approach. Here, we present the first solution-based synthesis of Ti4N3Tx MXene via a novel saturated salt solution (S3) etching technique employing alkali metal salts. By optimizing the sintering process for high-purity Ti4AlN3 MAX and refining the S3 etching route, we significantly reduced the etch pit density to 1.2×106 cm−2 and lowered the etch pit formation rate to 4 %, yielding high-quality, phase-pure Ti4N3Tx MXene. Our study highlights the critical role of alkali metal ions in selective A-layer removal and demonstrates the impressive electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding performance of 2D nitride MXene, setting a new benchmark for this underexplored material. These findings pave the way for advancing 2D nitride MXenes and their diverse applications.