Nanoscale imaging of MXenes by X-ray microscopy
type: CreativeWork
description: The global transition towards a carbon-neutral society by 2050 necessitates not only the development of renewable energy sources but also advanced energy storage technologies to address the intermittent nature of solar, wind, and other sustainable energy systems. In this context, MXenes, a novel class of two-dimensional (2D) materials, have attracted considerable interest for their promising applications in energy storage. MXenes, with their unique structure and chemical diversity, offer a combination of metallic conductivity and tunable surface properties, making them ideal candidates for energy storage devices like batteries and supercapacitors. Despite their potential, fundamental questions remain regarding the intercalation and redox mechanisms of individual MXene flakes, the coverage of MXenes with surface terminations, and defects that influence their electrochemical performance. This thesis explores the chemical and structural properties of Ti3C2Tx, Mo2CTx, and vacancy-ordered Mo1.33CTx MXenes, focusing on their thermal stability, surface chemistry, and interaction with aqueous electrolytes. Scanning X-ray Microscopy (SXM) is a suitable technique for the investigation of the surface and core chemistry of MXenes, particularly for capturing post mortem the intercalation mechanisms of a Li-ion battery and during exposure to varying conditions (temperature, gas, and liquid). SXM provided critical insights into the local distribution and chemical nature of surface terminations, defects, and intercalated water molecules, as well as the redox behavior of MXene flakes at the nanoscale. The thesis reveals that intercalants and surface terminations such as O, OH, and F play a significant role in the thermal stability and redox reactions of MXenes, with O-terminated surfaces being active sites for redox reactions. These findings also highlight the effect of ordered vacancies and surface chemistry in Mo-based MXenes on their stability. These MXenes present signs of degra…
abstract: The global transition towards a carbon-neutral society by 2050 necessitates not only the development of renewable energy sources but also advanced energy storage technologies to address the intermittent nature of solar, wind, and other sustainable energy systems. In this context, MXenes, a novel class of two-dimensional (2D) materials, have attracted considerable interest for their promising applications in energy storage. MXenes, with their unique structure and chemical diversity, offer a combination of metallic conductivity and tunable surface properties, making them ideal candidates for energy storage devices like batteries and supercapacitors. Despite their potential, fundamental questions remain regarding the intercalation and redox mechanisms of individual MXene flakes, the coverage of MXenes with surface terminations, and defects that influence their electrochemical performance. This thesis explores the chemical and structural properties of Ti3C2Tx, Mo2CTx, and vacancy-ordered Mo1.33CTx MXenes, focusing on their thermal stability, surface chemistry, and interaction with aqueous electrolytes. Scanning X-ray Microscopy (SXM) is a suitable technique for the investigation of the surface and core chemistry of MXenes, particularly for capturing post mortem the intercalation mechanisms of a Li-ion battery and during exposure to varying conditions (temperature, gas, and liquid). SXM provided critical insights into the local distribution and chemical nature of surface terminations, defects, and intercalated water molecules, as well as the redox behavior of MXene flakes at the nanoscale. The thesis reveals that intercalants and surface terminations such as O, OH, and F play a significant role in the thermal stability and redox reactions of MXenes, with O-terminated surfaces being active sites for redox reactions. These findings also highlight the effect of ordered vacancies and surface chemistry in Mo-based MXenes on their stability. These MXenes present signs of degra…
author: Amargianou, Faidra
language: en
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
date published: 2026
date modified: 2026-07-27T21:28:29Z
provider: Technische Universität Berlin
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Technische Universität Berlin

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.14279/depositonce-24866