Mussel Inspired Highly Aligned Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i> MXene Film with Synergistic Enhancement of Mechanical Strength and Ambient Stability

TLDR

MXene is a promising two‑dimensional material for energy storage and EMI shielding, yet its structures are mechanically fragile and prone to oxidation. The authors aim to reinforce MXene films by incorporating mussel‑inspired dopamine to strengthen interflake interactions and improve ordering. Dopamine polymerizes in situ on MXene flake surfaces through spontaneous interfacial charge transfer, forming an ultrathin adhesive layer that enhances interflake cohesion. The resulting highly aligned MXene/polydopamine composites show a sevenfold increase in tensile strength, improved elongation, greater ambient stability, and enhanced electrical conductivity and EMI shielding, establishing a versatile platform for reliable MXene applications.

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) MXene has shown enormous potential in scientific fields, including energy storage and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Unfortunately, MXene-based material structures generally suffer from mechanical fragility and vulnerability to oxidation. Herein, mussel-inspired dopamine successfully addresses those weaknesses by improving interflake interaction and ordering in MXene assembled films. Dopamine undergoes in situ polymerization and binding at MXene flake surfaces by spontaneous interfacial charge transfer, yielding an ultrathin adhesive layer. Resultant nanocomposites with highly aligned tight layer structures achieve approximately seven times enhanced tensile strength with a simultaneous increase of elongation. Ambient stability of MXene films is also greatly improved by the effective screening of oxygen and moisture. Interestingly, angstrom thick polydopamine further promotes the innate high electrical conductivity and excellent EMI shielding properties of MXene films. This synergistic concurrent enhancement of physical properties proposes MXene/polydopamine hybrids as a general platform for MXene based reliable applications.