Solution-processed titanium carbide MXene films examined as highly transparent conductors

Abstract

MXenes, a new family of two-dimensional structures, have recently gained significant attention due to their unique physical properties suitable for a wide range of potential applications. Here we introduce Ti3C2Tx delaminated monolayers as ultrathin transparent conductors with properties exceeding comparable reduced graphene oxide films. Solution processed Ti3C2Tx films exhibit sheet resistances as low as 437 Omega sq(-1) with 77% transmittance at 550 nm. Field effect transistor measurements confirm that these films have a metallic nature, which makes them suitable as electrodes. We show using Kelvin Probe Atomic Force Microscopy that the work function of delaminated Ti3C2Tx flakes (with OH terminal groups) is 5.28 +/- 0.03 eV. These results demonstrate that solution-processed Ti3C2Tx conducting films could open up a new direction for the next generation of transparent conductive electrodes.