Studies on improved stability and electrochemical activity of titanium carbide MXene-polymer nanocomposites

Two dimensional titanium carbide MXene has many excellent graphene-like properties, but its lamellar structure is liable to collapse when processing in aqueous solution or air under ambient conditions. Herein, three types of polymers with good biocompatibility and hydrophilicity were employed to tailor titanium carbide MXene. The resulting titanium carbide-polyvinylpyrrolidone, titanium carbide-polyvinyl alcohol and titanium carbide-polyacrylamide nanocomposites had very stable and porous layered structures. Electrochemical sensors based on the nanocomposites had a good linear range and low detection limit for catalytic oxidation of dopamine. This work demonstrates that titanium carbide-polymer nanomaterials exhibit good structural stability and electrocatalytic activity, and are good matrices for sensors.