POS4-1160
Interfacially Engineered Amphiphilic MXene Inks via Alkoxide Functionalization for Versatile Solvent Processing
Topic
S4. Colloids, Interfaces, and Molecular Assemblies for Functional Soft Materials
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Jinkee HONG
Ki Su KIM
Presenter(s)
Seongeun Lee (Korea Institute of Science and Technology)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
MXenes are an emerging class of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides with outstanding electrical and chemical properties. Among them, Ti3C2TX MXene has attracted significant attention because of its high electrical conductivity. While its polar surface terminal groups enable excellent water dispersibility, they also result in poor compatibility with organic, particularly nonpolar solvents. These limitations restrict the use of MXene in solution-based processing such as coatings, printing and polymer composites. Surface functionalization has emerged as an effective strategy for tailoring the interfacial and colloidal properties of MXene.
Here, we report a simple one-step strategy for producing amphiphilic, conductive and oxidation-resistant Ti3C2TX MXene through alkoxide functionalization. Sodium alkoxide molecules are covalently grafted onto the MXene surface via nucleophilic substitution while preserving its electrical conductivity. The coexistence of intrinsic polar terminal groups and introduced nonpolar alkoxide groups enables stable dispersion in solvents ranging from water to toluene. This amphiphilic characteristic allows versatile solution processing and the fabrication of uniform coatings by spray coating, dip coating, and printing on various substrates. Furthermore, the alkoxide-functionalized MXene exhibits EMI shielding performance comparable to pristine MXene while providing enhanced oxidation resistance.
These findings demonstrate that alkoxide functionalization offers an effective molecular-level strategy for simultaneously regulating the interfacial chemistry, colloidal behavior, and electrical properties of MXene. This work provides a practical platform for developing high-performance MXene inks and multifunctional coatings compatible with both polar and nonpolar processing environments for applications in flexible electronics, energy devices, and electromagnetic interference shielding.
Here, we report a simple one-step strategy for producing amphiphilic, conductive and oxidation-resistant Ti3C2TX MXene through alkoxide functionalization. Sodium alkoxide molecules are covalently grafted onto the MXene surface via nucleophilic substitution while preserving its electrical conductivity. The coexistence of intrinsic polar terminal groups and introduced nonpolar alkoxide groups enables stable dispersion in solvents ranging from water to toluene. This amphiphilic characteristic allows versatile solution processing and the fabrication of uniform coatings by spray coating, dip coating, and printing on various substrates. Furthermore, the alkoxide-functionalized MXene exhibits EMI shielding performance comparable to pristine MXene while providing enhanced oxidation resistance.
These findings demonstrate that alkoxide functionalization offers an effective molecular-level strategy for simultaneously regulating the interfacial chemistry, colloidal behavior, and electrical properties of MXene. This work provides a practical platform for developing high-performance MXene inks and multifunctional coatings compatible with both polar and nonpolar processing environments for applications in flexible electronics, energy devices, and electromagnetic interference shielding.
