Electromechanically Actuated MXene Nanotubes for Tunable Mass Transport

Abstract

Developing stimuli-responsive nanochannels for tunable mass transport has attracted considerable attention. Herein, we investigate the electromechanical actuation of Sc 2 C MXene nanotubes (MNTs) that can be rolled from planar Sc 2 C and the application of the electromechanically actuated MNTs for tunable mass transport. Our results demonstrate that the maximum radial actuation strain is as high as 26.8% for MNTs upon charge injection while maintaining sufficient structural integrity. The underlying mechanism behind this high actuation performance of MNTs and planar Sc 2 C is revealed by atomic-and electronic-scale analyses. Finally, we probe the transport behaviors of a molecule test case (neopentane, C 5 H 12 ) passing through electromechanically actuated MNTs and demonstrate that the tunability of sieving diameters endows MNTs with the capability of tunable mass transport. These findings provide a feasible solution for the development of tunable nanochannels.

Electromechanical strain response of phosphorene nanotubes

“…Interestingly, the trend does not follow the chirality of the NT, with PNT-15 showing the greatest response, expanding by up to 30.2%. This is larger than what has been achieved for other nanotubes, including Sc 2 C nanotubes (26.8% [16]), CNTs (1.2% [15]) and MoS 2 /WS 2 MWNTs (16.0% [34]) (see table 2), suggesting that PNTs may be ideal materials for transporting large volumes of drugs, for example.…”

“…Key bond lengths, diameters and angles along the armchair direction of the PNTs and 2D monolayer. [16] 26.8 0.110 MoS2/WS2 MWNTS [34] 16.0 N/A CNT [35] 1.2 N/A…”

“…1D carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can also undergo expansions and contractions of up to ±1.2% upon charge injection [15]. Other 1D materials can also act as SRMs, including MXene nanotubes that can achieve diameter expansions as high as 26.8% in response to hole injection [16].…”

Mechanical characteristics and failure behavior of puckered and buckled allotropes of antimonene nanotubes: a molecular dynamics study

“…In recent years, examining the material properties of tetragens, pnictogens, MXenes, and transition metal dicalcogenides (TMD) together with their applicability in electrical and optoelectronic nanodevices has been the subject of numerous investigations. [9][10][11][12][13] For example, M. Khalkhali et al investigated the thermal conductivity of silicene nanotubes with different lengths and diameters using molecular dynamics simulations considering their applicability in next-generation nanoelectronic devices. 14 Similarly, Kripalani et al studied the mechanical properties and strain-driven electronic implications of ultrathin 2Dlayered tin(II) oxide (SnO) and revealed the potential for SnObased nanoelectronic devices with novel functionalities.…”