Lee, Changjae Park, Soon Mo Kim Soobin Choi, Yun-Seok Park, Geonhyeong Kang, Yun Chan Koo, Chong Min Seon Joon Kim Yoon, Dong Ki 2024-01-19T11:03:48Z 2024-01-19T11:03:48Z 2022-10-11 2022-09 2041-1723 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/114572 In this work, authors demonstrate reversible vertical alignment of Ti3C2Tx MXene sheets induced by an applied in-plane electric field. Further modulation of the field can achieve programmed patterns onto various electrode substrates. Controlling the orientation of two-dimensional materials is essential to optimize or tune their functional properties. In particular, aligning MXene, a two-dimensional carbide and/or nitride material, has recently received much attention due to its high conductivity and high-density surface functional group properties that can easily vary based on its arranged directions. However, erecting 2D materials vertically can be challenging, given their thinness of few nanometres. Here, vertical alignment of Ti3C2Tx MXene sheets is achieved by applying an in-plane electric field, which is directly observed using polarised optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The electric field-induced vertical alignment parallel to the applied alternating-current field is demonstrated to be reversible in the absence of a field, back to a random orientation distribution. Interdigitated electrodes with uniaxially aligned MXene nanosheets are demonstrated. These can be further modulated to achieve various patterns using diversified electrode substrates. Anisotropic electrical conductivity is also observed in the uniaxially aligned MXene nanosheet film, which is quite different from the randomly oriented ones. The proposed orientation-controlling technique demonstrates potential for many applications including sensors, membranes, polarisers, and general energy applications. English Nature Publishing Group Field-induced orientational switching produces vertically aligned Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets Article 10.1038/s41467-022-33337-2 1 Nature Communications, v.13, no.1 Nature Communications 13 1 Y scie scopus 000858076500005 Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology - Other Topics Article SUSPENSIONS ELECTRIC-FIELD LIQUID-CRYSTALS TRANSITION