Flat materials are turned into tiny tubes that help batteries, sensors, and electronics work better. See how this small change could make a big difference.
Creating batteries, chemical sensors, and electronics often runs into a problem. The materials used can limit how fast ions or molecules move or how strong the device can be. Flat sheets of MXenes, a conductive nanomaterial, stack tightly, blocking access for ions and reducing efficiency.
Researchers at Drexel University developed a method to reshape MXenes into hollow tube structures called nanoscrolls. These scrolls are about 100 times thinner than a human hair and conduct electricity more efficiently than flat sheets.
MXenes have been studied for over a decade because of their electrical conductivity and chemical versatility. Producing one-dimensional MXene structures has been challenging until now. The researchers emphasize that material shape plays a role in performance. Flat sheets work in many applications, but one-dimensional forms offer advantages where fast transport or reinforcement is needed.
By rolling MXene flakes into tubes, the team produced hollow structures that allow ions to move more freely. The tubes can also reinforce polymers or metals while maintaining conductivity.
The process begins with multilayer MXene flakes. Researchers adjust the chemical environment using water to alter the surface chemistry. This step creates a structural imbalance known as a Janus reaction. The resulting internal strain causes the layers to peel apart and curl into scrolls.
The team tested the method on six MXenes including titanium carbide, niobium carbide, vanadium carbide, tantalum carbide, and titanium carbonitride. Each produced results. The researchers reported producing up to 10 grams of nanoscrolls with controlled shape and composition. Previous methods often led to irregular or damaged structures.
The tubular geometry exposes more surface area than stacked MXene sheets. This improves access for ions and molecules, which matters for batteries and chemical sensing. In a stacked two-dimensional structure, the sites for molecular adsorption are often hidden between layers. The hollow structure of the scroll solves this by allowing the analytes access to the MXene surface.
The team also discovered that electric fields can control nanoscroll orientation in solution. This could help align them within fibers or textiles. Imagine manipulating millions of tubules 100 times thinner than a human hair to make them build a wire or stand up to make a brush.
The researchers also observed superconductivity in films made from niobium carbide nanoscrolls. They plan to investigate the mechanisms behind this behavior.
