BIO

Hi, my name is Anna Huszar, I am a sophomore Chemical Engineering student at Florida State University. My Interests include topics in polymer and organic chemistry, polymer composites, and electric conductivity research.

Fabrication of Poly(arylene ether sulfone) based MXene Composite Membranes With Enhanced Conductive Properties

Abstract

MXenes, 2D transition metal carbides, express high electric conductivity, and thermal stability rates, as well as a 2D-layered structure. In this research focuses on blending commercially available UDEL ® with various weight percent of bromine etched MXenes. UDEL ® -PSU is a thermally stable, mechanically robust transparent plastic with high heat resistance and hydrolytic stability. However, UDEL ® has no electrical conductivity thus forming composite membranes that elucidate MXene properties without interference from the UDEL ® binder. Bromine-terminated MXenes were etched from their corresponding MAX phase (Ti3AlC2) and exhibited characteristic XRD peak-layer separations before the 8th degree. Solutions of UDEL ® (5 wt%) were prepared by dissolving the pellets in DMF solution. Different concentrations of the MXene dispersion in DMF were introduced into the UDEL ® solution and solution cast onto glass plates. Thermal and mechanical testing of the resulting samples was performed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Additional conductivity testing was performed to assess the change in the electric conductivity of the binder polymer. It is expected that merging the individual properties of UDEL ® and MXenes will lead to characteristics that can be applied to conductive inks.

Keywords: MXene, Polymer, Composite