Publication

Abstract : With the emergence of two-dimensional (2D) materials analogous to graphene, transition metal carbides and carbonitrides with unique desirable characteristics known as MXenes have turned out to be a hot research topic. Recent studies increasingly focus on the structureproperty relationships of MXenes and their hybrid formations with other materials. The exfoliation and delamination of MXenes using various agents is gaining attention, while their application in functional composites presents another exciting research direction. However, the exfoliation of multi-layered MXene into few-layered nanosheets using bio-based agents remains underexplored. In this study, tannic acid (TA) is employed as a bio-exfoliating agent to delaminate Ti3C2Tx MXene, while optimizing the ratio of TA to achieve efficient exfoliation and dye adsorption. The MXene/TA composites demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 187.264mg/g and a removal efficiency of 93.69% for methylene blue (MB) in water, in accordance with the Langmuir isotherm model. Furthermore, MB adsorption caused MXene to coagulate into floccules, enabling easy removal via filtration. The study highlights the trifold role of tannic acid in MXene as a delaminating, antimicrobial, and adsorption-enhancing agent, creating a multifunctional MXene-tannic acid system. It introduces a new class of hybrid materials with effective applications in water purification. Additionally, incorporating this hybrid material into polymers can fine-tune their properties, leveraging the synergistic effects of the trio to develop high-performance smart polymer composites for diverse applications.