The preparation route and final form of V-MXenes override the effect of the O/F ratio on their magnetic properties

Abstract

Transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) show a high potential for electrochemical energy storage in batteries and supercapacitors and for electrocatalysis. Their excellent electronic and magnetic characteristics have been highlighted in several theoretical studies. However, experimental research on MXenes is yet to confirm their predicted properties as candidates for controllable magnetic 2D materials. Here, we report our theoretical and experimental study of V₂CT_x MXenes (T = O, OH, F), providing key insights into their magnetism. Based on our density functional theory (DFT) analysis, we predicted ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) states of V₂CT_x, which are determined by the O/F ratio of surface functional groups. Accordingly, we prepared V₂CT_x MXenes in the form of multilayered powders and thin films with different O/F ratios. No experimental evidence of FM or AFM properties was found in any material. Nevertheless, powders and films with almost identical chemical compositions (in terms of O/F ratio) displayed different magnetic properties, whereas films with disparate chemical compositions revealed a similar magnetic character. Therefore, the preparation route and form of the final V₂CT_x material override the effect of the O/F ratio, which is often overestimated in theoretical studies. Moreover, these findings underscore the importance of preparing MXene materials to experimentally confirm their theoretically predicted properties.