title: The effect of the interlayer element on the exfoliation of layered Mo2AC (A = Al, Si, P, Ga, Ge, As or In) MAX phases into two-dimensional Mo2C nanosheets.
abstract: The experimental exfoliation of layered, ternary transition-metal carbide and nitride compounds, known as MAX phases, into two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets, is a great development in the synthesis of novel low-dimensional inorganic systems. Among the MAX phases, Mo-containing ones might be considered as the source for obtaining Mo2C nanosheets with potentially unique properties, if they could be exfoliated. Here, by using a set of first-principles calculations, we discuss the effect of the interlayer 'A' element on the exfoliation of Mo2AC (A = Al, Si, P, Ga, Ge, As or In) MAX phases into the 2D Mo2C nanosheets. Based on the calculated exfoliation energies and the elastic constants, we propose that Mo2InC with the lowest exfoliation energy and the highest elastic constant anisotropy betweenC11andC33might be a suitable compound for exfoliation into 2D Mo2C nanosheets.
authors.affiliation: Computational Materials Science Unit, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, 305-0044, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khazaei
authors.affiliation: Computational Materials Science Unit, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, 305-0044, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.affiliation: Computational Materials Science Unit, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, 305-0047, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Taizo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: International Center for Young Scientists (ICYS), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, 305-0047, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Estili
authors.affiliation: Materials Processing Unit, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, 305-0047, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakka
keywords: Carbide and nitride; Exfoliation; MAX phase; MXene; Nanosheet