%0 Journal Article %@ 02540584 %A Numan, A. %A Rafique, S. %A Khalid, M. %A Zaharin, H.A. %A Radwan, A. %A Mokri, N.A. %A Ching, O.P. %A Walvekar, R. %D 2022 %F scholars:16430 %I Elsevier Ltd %J Materials Chemistry and Physics %K Absorption spectroscopy; Aluminum compounds; Titanium compounds; Transmission electron microscopy; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy, 'current; 2d material; High quality; Hydrothermal methods; MAX-phase; Microwave etching; Microwave-assisted; Microwave-assisted hydrothermal; Mxenes; Paradigm shifts, Etching %R 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2022.126429 %T Microwave-assisted rapid MAX phase etching and delamination: A paradigm shift in MXene synthesis %U https://khub.utp.edu.my/scholars/16430/ %V 288 %X This work describes a novel and rapid strategy to produce delaminated MXene sheets from the MAX phase. The current method uses a novel microwave-assisted hydrothermal method to etch aluminium (Al) from the MAX phase (as well as delaminate) within 2 h of processing which has remarkably reduced time from up to 48 h to 30 min and temperature from 180 to 40 °C. A range of characterizations was carried out to evaluate the properties of the MXene. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited the spectra typical of Ti3C2Tx extracted from Ti3AlC2 after rapid etching of Al. These results were complemented by scanning and transmission electron microscopies, UV�visible absorption spectrum, and BET absorption-desorption curves. The results depicted the formation of high-quality MXene with negligible Al traces, which confirms the efficacy of the current method. This work not only establishes a comprehensive methodology for rapidly synthesizing high-quality MXene in bulk quantities but also opens up new avenues for its commercial applications. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. %Z cited By 19