In extreme heat or in the vacuum of space: a novel nanomaterial delivers top performance in extreme situations.

The material class of MXenes (pronounced «maxene») has caused quite a stir in recent years in connection with novel battery technologies. But it now turns out that they are also an excellent solid lubricant that is extremely durable and performs its task even under the most difficult conditions. These remarkable properties of MXenes have now been published in the journal ACS Nano.

Like a stack of sheets of paper

Just like the carbon material graphene, MXenes belong to the class of so-called 2D materials: their properties are essentially determined by the fact that they are ultra-thin layers, single atomic layers, without strong bonds to the layer above or below.

«You first start with so-called MAX phases, which are special layer systems consisting of titanium, aluminium and carbon, for example,» says Prof. Carsten Gachot, head of the Tribology Group at the Institute of Engineering Design and Product Development at TU Wien. «The crucial trick is to etch out the aluminium with hydrofluoric acid.»

What then remains is a stack of atomically thin layers of titanium and carbon that lie loosely on top of each other, much like sheets of paper. Each layer is relatively stable on its own, but the layers can easily be shifted against each other.

Story Source: Materials provided by Vienna University of Technology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.