Synthesis of glucose-derived MAX phases and investigation on the phase evolution behavior

The family of MAX phases and their two-dimensional derivative MXenes attract significant attention due to their unparalleled properties. Synthesis of MAX phases and MXene from biomass sources is important to expand their biology-related applications, while it remains a challenge. The present work explores the possibility to synthesize MAX phases and subsequently derive MXenes by using biomass precursor. Ti 3 AlC 2 MAX phase was synthesized by using glucose as the carbon source in molten salt. The conversion behavior from glucose to Ti 3 AlC 2 was investigated, and the conversion rate of carbon from glucose reached to 70.4% by optimizing the reaction conditions. The as-obtained Ti 3 AlC 2 can be derived into Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene and MXene quantum dots by common chemical treatments, which provides possibility for biomass-derived nanolaminates applying in biological applications such as biological catalysis, bioinstrumentation, and biological tracking.