Synthesis of Spherical Nanoflower-Shaped Ti3C2Tx MXenes for Application in the Label-Free Colorimetric Sensing of Silver Ions
Simonas Ramanavicius, Kristina Sobol, Raminta Bajarunaite, Martynas Talaikis, Anton Popov, Sarunas Zukauskas, Arunas Ramanavicius, Oleksiy Gogotsi, Almira RamanavicieneAbstract
Since their discovery, MXenes have been exclusively known as 2D materials. In this study, we demonstrated a wet chemical method for the synthesis of spherical nanoflowered Ti3C2Tx MXene and its application in the design of a colorimetric sensor. The proof-of-principle concept was demonstrated for a label-free colorimetric sensor based on the instantaneous reduction of silver ions (Ag+) on the surface of hydrophilic spherical nanoflower-shaped Ti3C2Tx MXene colloidal suspension. The colorimetric changes induced by Ag+ were recorded using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, showing a concentration-dependent response selective for Ag+ among the tested ions. The developed spherical nanoflower-shaped MXene-based analytical system showed a linear response to Ag+ over the concentration range of 2−100 μM, with detection and quantification limits of 1.64 and 5.48 μM, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential of morphology-controlled Ti3C2Tx MXenes as simple, fast, label-free colorimetric platforms for Ag+ determination in aqueous samples.