Fabrication of Ti₃C₂ MXene/borosilicate glass with enhanced fracture toughness

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the incorporation of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) in glass materials. Ti₃C₂ MXene was successfully incorporated into borosilicate glass by spark plasma sintering. The addition of 1 vol % MXene nanoplatelets to the borosilicate glass resulted in them being homogenously distributed in the glass matrix. The addition of 2 vol % MXene nanoplatelets, however resulted in a coarser distribution. The fracture toughness of the glass samples with 0, 1 and 2 vol % MXene were 0.94, 1.36, and 1.21 MPa m^1/2, respectively. The enhanced fracture toughness of borosilicate glass with Ti₃C₂ MXene is ascribed to crack deflection, crack bridging, and pull-out of Ti₃C₂ MXene.