Wetting of MXenes and Beyond

Highlights The wetting behavior of 2D materials, MXenes in particular, is presented. Owing to rich chemistry, MXenes have great potentials to be employed in various composite/hybrid systems. Hydrophilicity and superior physical properties make the MXenes a great reinforcing agent.

MXene-Based Materials for Solar Cell Applications

MXenes are a class of two-dimensional nanomaterials with exceptional tailor-made properties, making them promising candidates for a wide variety of critical applications from energy systems, optics, electromagnetic interference shielding to those advanced sensors, and medical devices. Owing to its mechano-ceramic nature, MXenes have superior thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties. Recently, MXene-based materials are being extensively explored for solar cell applications wherein materials with superior sustainability, performance, and efficiency have been developed in demand to reduce the manufacturing cost of the present solar cell materials as well as enhance the productivity, efficiency, and performance of the MXene-based materials for solar energy harvesting. It is aimed in this review to study those MXenes employed in solar technologies, and in terms of the layout of the current paper, those 2D materials candidates used in solar cell applications are briefly reviewed and discussed, and then the fabrication methods are introduced. The key synthesis methods of MXenes, as well as the electrical, optical, and thermoelectric properties, are explained before those research efforts studying MXenes in solar cell materials are comprehensively discussed. It is believed that the use of MXene in solar technologies is in its infancy stage and many research efforts are yet to be performed on the current pitfalls to fill the existing voids

Ultrasonically Stir Cast SiO₂/A356 Metal Matrix Nanocomposites

Metal matrix nanocomposites are a newly developed materials with promising applications in a wide variety of areas, ranging from medical to aerospace structures, owing to their lightweight high-strength properties. A light metal like aluminum is usually strengthened by a reinforcing agent of carbides, nitrides, oxides, carbon-based materials, or even elementals to boost the mechanical performance without sacrificing lightweight; however, almost all reinforcing nanomaterials are commonly poorly wetted by metals leading to agglomerations, clusterings, among other problems, with diminished ductility and overall mechanical performance. To tackle the mentioned problems, a number of strategies including coatings, thermal, mechanical, or chemical treatments may be followed. In the present study, a particular focus is paid on the mechanical dispersion of nano-silica particles in a molten A356 alloy through applying high-intensity ultrasonic agitations in order to improve dispersibility, wettability, and interfacial affinity. Nano-silica being an inexpensive high-strength nanomaterial is added to an A356 aluminum alloy melt and then dispersed and distributed by a 2-kW power ultrasonic system. Experimental results including microscopic observations and those mechanical experimentations revealed that the ultrasonication of the aforesaid solid–liquid system may greatly improve the affinity between the de-agglomerated nano-silica particles and the host aluminum matrix with enhanced ductility

Wettability in Metal Matrix Composites

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been developed in response to the enormous demand for special industrial materials and structures for automotive and aerospace applications, wherein both high-strength and light weight are simultaneously required. The most common, inexpensive route to fabricate MMCs or metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) is based on casting, wherein reinforcements like nanoceramics, -carbides, -nitrides, elements or carbon allotropes are added to molten metal matrices; however, most of the mentioned reinforcements, especially those with nanosized reinforcing particles, have usually poor wettability with serious drawbacks like particle agglomerations and therefore diminished mechanical strength is almost always expected. Many research efforts have been made to enhance the affinity between the mating surfaces. The aim in this paper is to critically review and comprehensively discuss those approaches/routes commonly employed to boost wetting conditions at reinforcement-matrix interfaces. Particular attention is paid to aluminum matrix composites owing to the interest in lightweight materials and the need to enhance the mechanical properties like strength, wear, or creep resistance. It is believed that effective treatment(s) may enormously affect the wetting and interfacial strength