22 January 2024 | Weiyan Yu1,2, Yi Yang1,2, Yunjing Wang2, Lulin Hu1,2, Jingcheng Hao2,3 ☛, Lu Xu1,2 ☛, Weimin Liu1,2
This study presents a novel approach to rapidly gelate Ti$_3$C$_2$T$_x$ MXene with a very low dispersion concentration (0.5 mg mL$^{-1}$) into multifunctional 3D architectures using brief and low-strength centrifugation. The resulting MXene gels exhibit reconfigurable internal structures and tunable rheological, tribological, electrochemical, infrared-emissive, and photothermal-conversion properties based on pH-induced changes in the surface chemistry of the nanosheets. By optimizing the pH value, the gels demonstrate high lubrication, exceptional specific capacitances, long-term capacitance retention, and high-precision screen- or extrusion-printing capabilities into high-resolution anticounterfeiting patterns. These properties make the MXene gels suitable for applications in semi-solid lubrication, supercapacitors, information encryption, and infrared camouflaging. The study provides a simple and low-cost method for creating versatile MXene-based materials with potential applications in various fields.This study presents a novel approach to rapidly gelate Ti$_3$C$_2$T$_x$ MXene with a very low dispersion concentration (0.5 mg mL$^{-1}$) into multifunctional 3D architectures using brief and low-strength centrifugation. The resulting MXene gels exhibit reconfigurable internal structures and tunable rheological, tribological, electrochemical, infrared-emissive, and photothermal-conversion properties based on pH-induced changes in the surface chemistry of the nanosheets. By optimizing the pH value, the gels demonstrate high lubrication, exceptional specific capacitances, long-term capacitance retention, and high-precision screen- or extrusion-printing capabilities into high-resolution anticounterfeiting patterns. These properties make the MXene gels suitable for applications in semi-solid lubrication, supercapacitors, information encryption, and infrared camouflaging. The study provides a simple and low-cost method for creating versatile MXene-based materials with potential applications in various fields.