A weldable MXene film assisted by water

As an extremely important macroscopic architecture of 2D MXene nanosheets, MXene (Ti3C2Tx) film has shown great commercial value in many fields. However, it is difficult to design complex multi-scale structures directly by using MXene film as the base material. Herein, we have discovered a time-sensitive welding phenomenon of MXene film with the assistance of water. Specifically, MXene film can be connected during the time-sensitive period but would lose weldability outside the time-sensitive period, thus ensuring the stability and practicability of the connecting materials. Taking advantage of this special weldability, we have successfully fabricated a complex structure for humidity-responsive MXene actuators and vertically aligned compact MXene electrode with rapid electrolyte ion diffusion. This work demonstrates that MXene film has similar potential to that of metal and other engineering materials, which is a milestone in promoting such conductive 2D materials forward toward practical applications.

Automated summary

MXene films have the potential for complex structure design and stable connection through time-sensitive welding with water assistance, making them promising for various applications.