Charge Carriers Localization Effect Revealed through Terahertz Spectroscopy of MXene: Ti3C2Tx

Small. 2024 Apr;20(16):e2306200. doi: 10.1002/smll.202306200. Epub 2023 Dec 1.

Abstract

The transport properties of charge carriers in MXene, a promising material, have been studied using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) to examine its potential applications in optical and electronic devices. However, previous studies have been limited by narrow frequency ranges, which have hindered the understanding of the intrinsic mechanisms of carrier transport in MXenes. To address this issue, ultrabroadband THz-TDS with frequencies of up to 15 THz to investigate the complex photoconductances of MXene (Ti3C2Tx) films with different thicknesses are employed. The findings indicate that the electronic localization is substrate-dependent, and this effect decreases with an increase in the number of layers. This is attributed to the screening effect of the high carrier density in Ti3C2Tx. Additionally, the layer-independent photocarrier relaxations revealed by optical pump THz probe spectroscopy (OPTP) provide evidence of the carrier heating-induced screening effect. These results are significant for practical applications in both scientific research and various industries.

Keywords: Ti3C2Tx; carrier screening; electronic localization; intra‐flake carrier dynamic; ultrabroadband THz‐TDS.