Laser Ablation of 2D Layered Materials to Synthesize Metastable Nanostructures

chemistry Medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry Nano- and molecular-scale electronics Nano-biomaterials and bioscience Nanomagnetics Nanomaterials, thin films and nanointerfaces Nanomedicine Nanometrology and nanomechanics Nano-optics Nanopatterning, self-assembly and nanofabrication Nanostructures for energy and sensing applications Natural products chemistry Organo main group chemistry Other nanotechnology (unclassified) Other organic chemistry (unclassified) Photochemistry and photovoltaics Physical organic chemistry Supramolecular chemistry Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids (PLAL) is a technique for synthesizing high-purity, ligand-free nanomaterials with controlled size and morphology. This study focuses on the synthesis of MXene nanostructures (Ti₃C₂), by using a focused pulsed excimer laser at 193 nm and 2-4 J/cm2 (150 mJ at 5 Hz for 30 minutes). Using a 2 mm thick and 5 mm diameter Ti₃C₂ target in a solvent blend of deionized water and dodecyl sulfate dispersant, producing nanostructured MXenes under transient conditions of ~2,000 K temperature and 10⁷-10⁸ Pa pressure. The method minimizes contamination from precursors and byproducts, offering precise control over nanoparticle size and distribution while preserving structural integrity and functional properties. The synthesized MXenes were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and revealed distinct morphologies such as wrinkled sheet-like structures like graphene oxide, uniform nanostructures consistent 2D flakes indicating a controlled synthesis that yields thin, uniform layers WS2, and minimal synthesis damage: low defect density and minimal oxidation observed in EDS spectra. This study demonstrates the viability of PLAL method for producing high-quality MXene nanoparticles and provides a foundation for future innovations in nanomaterial synthesis for a wide range of other 2D technological applications.

Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids (PLAL); MXene nanostructures; Ti₃C₂; excimer laser; nanoparticle synthesis. When a peer-reviewed version of this preprint is available, this information will be updated in the information box above. If no peer-reviewed version is available, please cite this preprint using the following information: Khalili, S.; Khatoon, N.; Sulkes, M.; Guisbiers, G.; Chrisey, D. B. Beilstein Arch. 2025, 202517. doi:10.3762/bxiv.2025.17.v1 Citation data can be downloaded as file using the "Download" button or used for copy/paste from the text window below. Citation data in RIS format can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Zotero. © 2025 Khalili et al.; licensee Beilstein-Institut. This is an open access work licensed under the terms of the Beilstein-Institut Open Access License Agreement (https://www.beilstein-archives.org/xiv/terms), which is identical to the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). The reuse of material under this license requires that the author(s), source and license are credited. Third-party material in this work could be subject to other licenses (typically indicated in the credit line), and in this case, users are required to obtain permission from the license holder to reuse the material.