Heteronanoarchitecture of Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub> MXene and Amorphous MOF for Exceptional Durability in Electro-Ionic Soft Actuator.

Mahato, Manmatha; Kim, Jaehwan; Lee, Myung-Joon; Jo, Seongjun; Kim, Gwonmin; Nam, Sanghee; Kim, Ji-Seok; Nguyen, Van Hiep et al. · Adv Mater · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The assembly of 2D nanosheets with other functional nanomaterials enables the creation of materials with unique property combinations that cannot be achieved in single-phase materials. In particular, a combination of inorganic and organic components provides a pathway to structures offering highly durable ionic and electronic conductivity simultaneously. Here, a controlled growth of amorphous metal-organic framework (aMOF) in the interlayer spaces of Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub> MXene for enhancing oxidation stability and accelerating fast ion transport is reported. The hydrophilic terminations of MXene provide support for the continuous growth of iron-based aMOF in the available interlayer 2D slits. Effective electronic interactions involving hydrogen bonding, coordination, and esterification in-between the open surfaces of MXene and nanoporous aMOF enhance the electrochemical strength of MXene-aMOF hybrid electrodes and allow the design of extremely durable electro-ionic soft actuators. The MXene-aMOF exhibits a fivefold increment in electroactuation compared to a conventional poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) soft actuator, with robust stability up to 50 000 cycles in open air. Using the MXene-aMOF soft actuator, a deformable morphing surface with reversibly adjustable shapes and patterns is demonstrated.