2023
Toward MBenes Battery Electrode Materials: Layered Molybdenum Borides for Li‐Ion Batteries
Ahmad Majed, Mohammad Torkamanzadeh, Chukwudi F. Nwaokorie, Karamullah Eisawi, Chaochao Dun, Audrey Buck, Jeffrey J. Urban, Matthew M. Montemore, Volker Presser, Michael Naguib
Small Methods, 2300193
Abstract: Lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries (LIBs and SIBs) are crucial in our shift toward sustainable technologies. In this work, the potential of layered boride materials (MoAlB and Mo2AlB2) as novel, high-performance electrode materials for LIBs and SIBs, is explored. It is discovered that Mo2AlB2 shows a higher specific capacity than MoAlB when used as an electrode material for LIBs, with a specific capacity of 593 mAh g-1 achieved after 500 cycles at 200 mA g-1. It is also found that surface redox reactions are responsible for Li storage in Mo2AlB2, instead of intercalation or conversion. Moreover, the sodium hydroxide treatment of MoAlB leads to a porous morphology and higher specific capacities exceeding that of pristine MoAlB. When tested in SIBs, Mo2AlB2 exhibits a specific capacity of 150 mAh g-1 at 20 mA g-1. These findings suggest that layered borides have potential as electrode materials for both LIBs and SIBs, and highlight the importance of surface redox reactions in Li storage mechanisms.
2022
Transition Metal Carbo‐Chalcogenide “TMCC:” A New Family of 2D Materials
Ahmad Majed, Manish Kothakonda, Fei Wang, Eric N. Tseng, Kaitlyn Prenger, Xiaodong Zhang, Per O. Å. Persson, Jiang Wei, Jianwei Sun, Michael Naguib
Advanced Materials 34 (26), 2200574
Abstract: Here, a new family of 2D transition metal carbo-chalcogenides (TMCCs) is reported, which can be considered a combination of two well-known families, TM carbides (MXenes) and TM dichalcogenides (TMDCs), at the atomic level. Single sheets are successfully obtained from multilayered Nb2S2C and Ta2S2C using electrochemical lithiation followed by sonication in water. The parent multilayered TMCCs are synthesized using a simple, scalable solid-state synthesis followed by a topochemical reaction. Superconductivity transition is observed at 7.55 K for Nb2S2C. The delaminated Nb2S2C outperforms both multilayered Nb2S2C and delaminated NbS2 as an electrode material for Li-ion batteries. Ab initio calculations predict the elastic constant of TMCC to be over 50% higher than that of TMDC.
Samantha Husmann, Mohammad Torkamanzadeh, Kun Liang, Ahmad Majed, Chaochao Dun, Jeffrey J Urban, Michael Naguib, Volker Presser
Advanced Materials Interfaces 9 (14), 2102185
Time‐Dependent Cation Selectivity of Titanium Carbide MXene in Aqueous Solution
Lei Wang, Mohammad Torkamanzadeh, Ahmad Majed, Yuan Zhang, Qingsong Wang, Ben Breitung, Guang Feng, Michael Naguib, Volker Presser
Advanced Sustainable Systems 6 (3), 2100383
Kun Liang, Anika Tabassum, Ahmad Majed, Chaochao Dun, Feipeng Yang, Jinghua Guo, Kaitlyn Prenger, Jeffrey J. Urban, Michael Naguib
InfoMat 3 (12), 1422-1430
Abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) layered transition metal carbides/nitrides, called MXenes, are attractive alternative electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage. Owing to their metallic electrical conductivity and low ion diffusion barrier, MXenes are promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, we report on a new 2D carbonitride MXene, viz., Ti2C0.5N0.5Tx (Tx stands for surface terminations), and the only second carbonitride after Ti3CNTx so far. A new type of in situ HF (HCl/KF) etching condition was employed to synthesize multilayer Ti2C0.5N0.5Tx powders from Ti2AlC0.5N0.5. Spontaneous intercalation of tetramethylammonium followed by sonication in water allowed for large-scale delamination of this new titanium carbonitride into 2D sheets. Multilayer Ti2C0.5N0.5Tx powders showed higher specific capacities and larger electroactive surface area than those of Ti2CTx powders. Multilayer Ti2C0.5N0.5Tx powders show a specific capacity of 182 mAh g-1 at 20 mA g-1, the highest among all reported MXene electrodes as SIBs with excellent cycling stability.
2021
Vipin Kumar, Pritesh Yeole, Ahmad Majed, Chanyeop Park, Kai Li, Michael Naguib, Pruthul Kokkada Ravindranath, Charl Jafta, Ryan Spencer, Brett Compton, Uday Vaidya, Vlastimil Kunc
Advanced Materials Interfaces 8 (17), 2100803
Abstract: Ti3C2 – a member of the MXenes (2D transition metal carbides and nitrides) family, is investigated as an effective filler to improve the electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties of divinylbenzene (DVB) thermosetting resin. Consequently, its performance as a lightning strike protection (LSP) coating for carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is evaluated. Polyaniline (PANI) – dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) complex is used to cure the DVB resin. The synergic effect of MXenes (with surface that is negatively charged) with polyaniline (positive charge) shows electrostatic bonding and improved electrical conductivity in the composite. The addition of MXenes at 2 wt% into the PANI-DVB composite shows ≈139%, 10%, and 9% improvement in electrical conductivity, flexural strength, and flexural modulus, respectively, compared to the neat PANI-DVB composite. The composites are investigated using various material characterization techniques including Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, MXenes-DVB is utilized to create a conductive thermosetting coating on top of a CFRP substrate and tested against a lightning strike of 100 kA. CFRP with MXenes-DVB coating reduced the surface damage from 40.61 cm2 (reference CFRP panel) to 13.29 cm2 (CFRP coated with MXenes-DVB).
2020
N El-Mahallawy, A Majed, AAGA Maboud
Materials Research Express 7 (1), 016590
Abstract: The present work investigates the effect of friction stir processing on microstructure evolution—grain refining and phase transformation- and hardness of NiAl bronze alloy. NiAl bronze alloys have a wide range of industrial applications especially in the marine field. The technique is based on applying friction using a rotating tool causing heat generation and material mixing. The effect of process parameters, such as; rotation speed, traverse speed, forced convection were investigated in this research. At constant traverse speed, the effect or rotation speed was studied at 800, 1000, and 1200 rpm. At constant rotation speed, the effect of traverse speed was studied at 40, 64, and 93 mm min−1. Minimum grain size was achieved at FSP conditions 800 rpm/93 mm min−1. Highest average hardness value was achieved by FSP 1200/93. At constant rotation and traverse speeds, the application of forced convection using air blowing at a rate of 4.5 m3 min−1 was studied and it was found to reduce the grain size within the SZ and to increase the average hardness value.
