Functionalized MXene ink enables environmentally stable printed electronics

Functionalized MXene ink enables environmentally stable printed electronics

24 April 2024 | Tae Yun Ko, Heqing Ye, G. Murali, Seul-Yi Lee, Young Ho Park, Jihoon Lee, Juyun Lee, Dong-Jin Yun, Yury Gogotsi, Seon Joon Kim, Se Hyun Kim, Yong Jin Jeong, Soo-Jin Park & Insik In
This study presents a method to fabricate environmentally stable printed electronics using functionalized MXene ink. MXenes, known for their high electrical conductivity and solution processability, are promising for use in microelectronics. However, their hydrophilic nature limits their application in electronic circuits due to environmental degradation and poor dispersion in organic solvents. To address this, researchers functionalized Ti3C2Tx MXene with alkylated 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (ADOPA) ligands, resulting in AD-MXene. This functionalization improved the dispersion stability of MXene in ethanol and enhanced its hydrophobicity, leading to better environmental stability. AD-MXene was used as source, drain, and gate electrodes in thin-film transistors (TFTs) fabricated via electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing. The AD-MXene electrodes demonstrated excellent electrical conductivity and stability under humid conditions, outperforming conventional vacuum-deposited Au and Al electrodes. The TFTs were integrated into logic gates and one-transistor-one-memory (1T1M) cells, showcasing the potential of AD-MXene in printed electronics. The AD-MXene ink was prepared by mixing aqueous MXene dispersion with ethanol-based ADOPA ligand solution. The resulting ink was printed using EHD printing, which allows for precise patterning and compatibility with various materials. The printed AD-MXene electrodes exhibited high conductivity and stability, with minimal degradation even after 30 days of exposure to 60% relative humidity. The study also demonstrated the scalability of AD-MXene-based TFTs, fabricating a 7-inch wafer-scale TFT array. The TFTs showed stable performance with consistent electrical characteristics. Furthermore, the AD-MXene electrodes were used to fabricate complementary inverters, NAND, and NOR logic gates, as well as 1T1M memory cells, highlighting their versatility in electronic applications. The results indicate that surface-functionalized MXenes can provide a pathway to environmentally stable printed electronics, offering advantages such as cost-effectiveness, scalability, and compatibility with flexible substrates. The use of AD-MXene in printed electronics demonstrates the potential for developing robust, printable electronic devices with enhanced performance and stability.This study presents a method to fabricate environmentally stable printed electronics using functionalized MXene ink. MXenes, known for their high electrical conductivity and solution processability, are promising for use in microelectronics. However, their hydrophilic nature limits their application in electronic circuits due to environmental degradation and poor dispersion in organic solvents. To address this, researchers functionalized Ti3C2Tx MXene with alkylated 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (ADOPA) ligands, resulting in AD-MXene. This functionalization improved the dispersion stability of MXene in ethanol and enhanced its hydrophobicity, leading to better environmental stability. AD-MXene was used as source, drain, and gate electrodes in thin-film transistors (TFTs) fabricated via electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing. The AD-MXene electrodes demonstrated excellent electrical conductivity and stability under humid conditions, outperforming conventional vacuum-deposited Au and Al electrodes. The TFTs were integrated into logic gates and one-transistor-one-memory (1T1M) cells, showcasing the potential of AD-MXene in printed electronics. The AD-MXene ink was prepared by mixing aqueous MXene dispersion with ethanol-based ADOPA ligand solution. The resulting ink was printed using EHD printing, which allows for precise patterning and compatibility with various materials. The printed AD-MXene electrodes exhibited high conductivity and stability, with minimal degradation even after 30 days of exposure to 60% relative humidity. The study also demonstrated the scalability of AD-MXene-based TFTs, fabricating a 7-inch wafer-scale TFT array. The TFTs showed stable performance with consistent electrical characteristics. Furthermore, the AD-MXene electrodes were used to fabricate complementary inverters, NAND, and NOR logic gates, as well as 1T1M memory cells, highlighting their versatility in electronic applications. The results indicate that surface-functionalized MXenes can provide a pathway to environmentally stable printed electronics, offering advantages such as cost-effectiveness, scalability, and compatibility with flexible substrates. The use of AD-MXene in printed electronics demonstrates the potential for developing robust, printable electronic devices with enhanced performance and stability.
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