Life-Cycle Assessment of Ti3 C2 Tx MXene Synthesis

Mostafa Dadashi Firouzjaei; Srinivasa Kartik Nemani; Mohtada Sadrzadeh; Evan K Wujcik; Mark Elliott; Babak Anasori

doi:10.1002/adma.202300422

Life-Cycle Assessment of Ti₃ C₂ T_x MXene Synthesis

Adv Mater. 2023 Aug;35(31):e2300422. doi: 10.1002/adma.202300422. Epub 2023 Jun 11.

Authors

Mostafa Dadashi Firouzjaei^{1

2}, Srinivasa Kartik Nemani¹, Mohtada Sadrzadeh³, Evan K Wujcik⁴, Mark Elliott², Babak Anasori^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology and Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute (INDI), Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, USA.
² Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, 10-367 Donadeo Innovation Center for Engineering, Advanced Water Research Lab (AWRL), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1H9, Canada.
⁴ Materials Engineering and Nanosensor [MEAN] Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and the Advanced Structures & Composites Center [ASCC], The University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA.
⁵ School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.

PMID: 37095074
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202300422

Abstract

MXenes, 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, have been investigated for diverse applications since their discovery; however, their life-cycle assessment (LCA) has not been studied. Here, a "cradle to gate" LCA is performed to assess the cumulative energy demand (CED) and environmental impacts of lab-scale synthesis of Ti₃ C₂ T_x , the most researched MXene composition. Electromagnetic interface (EMI) shielding is selected as it is one of MXenes' most promising applications and LCA of Ti₃ C₂ T_x synthesis is compared to aluminum and copper foils, two typical EMI-shielding materials. Two laboratory-scale MXene synthesis systems-gram and kilogram batches-are examined. The CED and environmental implications of Ti₃ C₂ T_x synthesis are investigated based on its precursor production, selective etching, delamination processes, laboratory location, energy mix, and raw material type. These results show that laboratory electricity usage for the synthesis processes accounts for >70% of the environmental impacts. Manufacturing 1.0 kg of industrial-scale aluminum and copper foil releases 23.0 kg and 8.75 kg of CO₂ , respectively, while 1.0 kg of lab-scale MXene synthesis releases 428.10 kg. Chemical usage is less impactful than electricity, which suggests that recycled resources and renewable energy can make MXene synthesis more sustainable. Understanding MXene LCA helps the industrialization of this material.

Keywords: MXenes; energy; environment; industrialization; life-cycle assessment; nanomaterials; nanotechnology; sustainability.