Significant Insights Gained from TERS-Enabled Raman Imaging of MXenes

By Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Apr 14 2022Reviewed by Megan Craig, M.Sc.

In an article recently published in the journal ACS Nano, authors reported Raman imaging of single- to few-layer flakes of titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂T_x) MXene deposited substrates using tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) for the first time.

Study: Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering Imaging of Single- to Few-Layer Ti3C2Tx MXene. Image Credit: HQuality/Shutterstock.com

The resulting mapping had profound subdiffraction resolution at a lower power density. 

Additionally, the authors demonstrated that single-layered Ti₃C₂T_x is environmentally more stable than its multilayered counterparts. 

Imaging of Ti₃C₂T_x MXene

TERS imaging combines chemical imaging and scanning probe microscopy (SPM). The gold or silver-tipped probe in TERS enhances low-sensitive Raman scattering by six-folds. In general, TERS has enabled the nanoscale study of two-dimensional (2D)materials. It has helped researchers to understand the structure-property relationships of these materials.

In MXenes with the general formula M_nX_n-1T_x, M corresponds to transition metal, n to the number of layers, X can be carbon or nitrogen (or both), Tx refers to surface terminations that connate with their wet chemical synthesis. Thus, varying the values of M, n, and Tx can tune the properties of MXenes.

Although there are many published reports on MXenes, none of them reported TERS characterization of MXenes. TERS characterization helps understand the nanoscale composition and the corresponding properties of these 2D materials.

There are characterization antecedents in literature for single-layered MXene flakes using Raman spectroscopy, but the same for individual flakes are still unexplored.

TERS Imaging of Ti₃C₂T_x

In the present study, the authors demonstrated TERS-enabled Raman imaging of Ti₃C₂T_x at the nanoscale level. This aided in identifying structural defects such as nano wrinkles with a high degree of local curvature. Based on previous reports on other 2D materials, the authors demonstrated how the number of layers in Ti₃C₂T_x influenced the Raman spectrum. Additionally, the studies revealed that the single-layered Ti₃C₂T_x is environmentally stable on a long stand.

Ti₃C₂T_x suspension was prepared using a well-established wet-chemical synthetic method using a top-down approach. Further, the synthesized MXenes had varying T_x (O, F, OH) inherited from etching in HCl/HF solution.

The authors overcame the difficulties in Raman imaging of MXenes using TERS, which enhanced the intensity of the Raman signal. The localization of electromagnetic field at the TERS probe’s apex improved spatial resolution.

Structural Elucidation of Ti₃C₂T_x

In the present work, the authors chose MXene for their analysis. They decorated pristine gold and poly(amidoamine)(PAMAM) dendrimer-functionalized gold with MXene crystals. The authors labeled the individual layer of the multilayered MXene flakes as 1L, 2L, and 3L. Further, the overlapping of layers formed restacked flakes in the form of 1 + 1 (2,3, etc.) L.

Section analysis of MXene flakes on the gold substrate using atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging revealed the presence of monolayer (1L), bilayer (2L), and the overlap between the two layers (1+2) L. The TERS mapping of this multilayered MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x) with 785 nanometers excitation shows three bands at approximately 126-centimeter inverse corresponding to E_g vibration of C, Ti, and Tx groups, at 201-centimeter inverse corresponding to A1g vibration of same groups, and 725-centimeter inverse which corresponds to A1g vibration of C.

The highest band ratio was shown in the Ti₃C₂T_x monolayer with A1g (Ti, C, T_x) to E_g (Ti, C, T_x). This ratio significantly decreased at the overlapping region in the multilayered MXene compared to its single-layered counterpart. Moreover, with the number of layers, the absolute intensities at 126, 201, and 725-centimeter inverse of corresponding bands decreased. The reason for this corresponds to less tip and substrate coupling. Further, the peak located at 201-centimeter inverse is more significant in monolayered Ti₃C₂T_x.

Additionally, wrinkles of five to ten nanometers in height were observed in multilayered Ti₃C₂T_x flakes using an AFM map which enhanced the relative intensities of 126 and 725-centimeter bands. Moreover, the A_1g signal shifted from 201 to 202or 203-centimeter inverse over the wrinkles. Also, TERS response in the in-plane E_g mode at 126-centimeter inverse and the out-of-plane A_1g mode at 725-centimeter inverse shows TERS enhancement due to wrinkles differing in MXenes and carbon-based 2D materials.

The improved separation technique of MXene from the polycrystalline nanolaminates of ternary carbides and nitrides(MAX) phase increased the stability of Ti₃C₂T_x flakes at room temperature. Consequently, the authors demonstrated that the TiO₂ deposition on the edges of MXene in the conventional method lost its TERS activity within one to two weeks due to their air sensitivity which detracted the crystalline structure in Ti₃C₂T_x flakes on prolonged exposure to atmospheric air. However, the same deposition of TiO₂ on MXene using improved protocol retained its crystalline structure for a longer time and thus preserved its TERS response for an extended period.

Conclusion

To summarize, TERS-enabled Raman imaging of single- or few-layer thick Ti₃C₂T_x Mxene deposited on gold substrate depicts the relative intensity of in-plane E_g peak at 126-centimeter inverse, and the out-of-plane A_1g peak at 725-centimeter inverse increased with thickness. This variation in intensities can infer the layered structure (mono/multi) in Ti₃C₂T_x Mxene. These intensity values (E_g and A_1g) increased even more in wrinkled areas compared to the flat surroundings.

The authors demonstrated that the intensity of TERS signals aid in the early detection of degradation of MXene at room temperature. Thus, if the plasmonic resonance of MXene matches with the TERS tip, TERS imaging can help obtain information on 2D materials’ nanostructures.

Reference

Sarycheva, A., Shanmugasundaram, M., Krayev, A. and Gogotsi, Y., (2022) Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering Imaging of Single- to Few-Layer Ti3C2Tx MXene. ACS Nano. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.2c01868

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