Purdue researchers built a record nine-metal MXene, advancing 2D materials that can endure extreme environments and power new tech.
Two-dimensional nanomaterials only a few atoms thick are being pushed to new frontiers, with scientists synthesizing MXenes that pack up to nine transition metals into a single ultrathin sheet.The breakthrough could reshape how materials perform in extreme environments , from aerospace and energy storage to advanced electronics.
Researchers say it marks a leap in understanding how order and disorder at the atomic scale dictate material properties.MXenes , a family of 2D carbides and nitrides discovered in 2011 ,are among the most promising nanomaterials, combining high conductivity, tunability, and unusual surface chemistry.Their layered structure, just a nanometer thick, makes them ideal building blocks for technologies operating under ultra-demanding conditions.Entropy versus enthalpy clashIn their new study, Purdue University’s Babak Anasori and colleagues tested the limits of MXene construction by fitting up to nine different metals from the periodic table into a single 2D sheet.The team created nearly 40 layered materials with different combinations, then examined how entropy, the natural drive toward disorder, competes with enthalpy, the tendency toward ordered atomic arrangements.“Imagine making cheeseburgers with two to nine ingredients,” Anasori said. “If you use two to six, the layers always stack in order. But when you add more, the sandwich forms with true disorder. Our magic here is thermodynamics, and the box is a high-temperature furnace.”The research shows that while smaller metal combinations favor stable ordering, higher numbers lead to “high-entropy” phases where atoms arrange unpredictably. Understanding this transition is critical to designing materials that stay stable under harsh conditions.Paving path for extremesThe team synthesized the layered “parent” MAX phases first, then converted them into MXenes to analyze surface and electronic behavior. That allowed them to connect order-disorder transitions to functional properties, a key step toward engineering tailored materials.“This study indicates that short-range ordering in high-entropy materials determines the impact of entropy versus enthalpy on their structures and properties,” said Brian Wyatt, a postdoctoral researcher and first author. “Within layered ceramics and 2D material research, this expands the families of these materials and their potential applications.”Anasori’s lab is focused on creating MXenes that can thrive where current materials fail, from shielding electromagnetic waves to functioning as ultrathin antennas in next-generation communications.“We want to continue pushing the boundaries of what materials can do, especially in extreme environments where current materials fall short,” Anasori said.“Whether it is enabling clean energy, or longer EV range in extreme cold or extreme heat in aerospace, or crafting materials that function in space or deep-sea conditions, I hope our work can help enable the next generation of technologies.”The research was funded by agencies in the U.S., Poland, and Korea. It was published in Science.
Babak Anasori Extreme Environments High Entropy Materials Materials Research Mxenes Nanomaterials Nanotechnology Purdue University Science Journal
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
AUD/JPY Price Forecast: Tests confluence support zone near 96.50, nine-day EMAAUD/JPY halts its winning streak that began on August 21, trading around 96.70 during the early European hours on Thursday. The technical analysis of the daily chart shows that the currency cross is positioned within the ascending channel pattern, suggesting a prevailing bullish bias.
Read more »
The CW's Underrated 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' Replacement Just Got Easer to WatchLeighton Meester and Luke Cook in Good Cop/Bad Cop poster
Read more »
USD/CAD Price Forecast: Tests confluence support zone around 1.3800, nine-day EMAUSD/CAD trades around 1.3810 during the Asian hours on Friday, halting its four-day winning streak. The technical analysis of the daily chart suggests that the pair moves sideways within an ascending channel pattern, indicating that market sentiment is bullish.
Read more »
Orcas are ramming boats again and scientists now think it’s a gameExperts say the whales seem to learn to play with boats from a young age. 'Believe me: if they wanted to sink the boats, they'd be sinking the boat.'
Read more »
League City Police: Nine arrested for multiple Houston-area robberiesAccording to police, nine people between the ages of 20-65 were arrested for multiple robberies, including one at a jewelry store in an HEB on the Gulf Freeway.
Read more »
Ant Queens Produce Offspring of Two Different Species, Stunning ScientistsThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »