(429d) Exploring the Environmental Impacts and Scalability of Mxene Synthesis for Advanced Applications

The next generation of manufacturing in chemical and energy systems is challenged by the scaling up and environmental impacts associated with nanomaterial synthesis. MXenes, discovered in 2011, are groundbreaking nanostructures with over 100 predicted compositions and over 40 lab-scale fabricated structures. Their unique properties make them ideal for numerous applications, such as energy storage, environmental, electronics, communication, gas and liquid separation, adsorption, biomedical, and optoelectronics. By 2023, MXenes demonstrated potential in energy storage devices, electromagnetic interference shielding, nanocomposites, and hybrid materials while outperforming other nanomaterials in emerging applications, like tribology. Despite these advancements, the environmental impacts of MXene synthesis remain unexplored. This study investigates the environmental impacts of fabricating Ti₃C₂T_x MXene as a coating layer for electromagnetic interface (EMI) shielding in communication satellites, comparing it to aluminum and copper alternatives. Two Ti₃C₂T_x synthesis systems, small and large laboratory scales, are designed with location impacts considered. The use of TiO₂ as an alternative to Ti in the synthesis of MAX is also examined. Ultimately, this work aims to contribute to the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly MXene synthesis, which is crucial for scaling up MXene production in next-gen chemical and energy systems.