Direct synthesis and chemical vapor deposition of 2D carbide and nitride MXenes

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) are a large family of materials actively studied for various applications, especially in the field of energy storage. To date, MXenes are commonly synthesized by etching the layered ternary compounds, MAX phases. Here we demonstrate a direct synthetic route for scalable and atom-economic synthesis of MXenes, including phases that have not been synthesized from MAX phases, by the reactions of metals and metal halides with graphite, methane or nitrogen. These directly synthesized MXenes showed excellent energy storage capacity for Li-ion intercalation. The direct synthesis enables chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of MXene carpets and complex spherulite-like morphologies. The latter form in a process resembling the evolution of cellular membranes during endocytosis.