Enhanced Electrocatalytic Methanol Oxidation using Ti 3 C 2 T x MXenes-Based Composites Synthesized via FeF 3 /HCl Etching Environment

Abdullah, Norulsamani and Han, Tan Kim and Zaed, Md Abu and Md Ishak, Nurul Atiqah Izzati and Saidur, R. (2025) Enhanced Electrocatalytic Methanol Oxidation using Ti 3 C 2 T x MXenes-Based Composites Synthesized via FeF 3 /HCl Etching Environment. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1560 (1): 012056. ISSN 1755-1307

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Abstract

MXenes, a rapidly emerging class of two-dimensional materials, have gained significant attention as catalysts in fuel cell technology due to their exceptional electrical conductivity, and large surface area. The ability of MXenes to modify surface terminations and incorporate various transition metals further enhances their catalytic activity. These characteristics make MXenes particularly effective in facilitating key electrochemical reactions, such as methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction, which are critical for the efficiency of direct methanol fuel cells. This study presents the synthesis and characterization of Ti3C2Tx MXenes using a novel FeF3/HCl etching method, followed by the deposition of PtRu bimetal (PtRu/Ti3C2Tx_FeF3) to enhance electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation reactions (MOR). The unique etching environment facilitates the efficient removal of aluminum layers from the MAX phase, leading to high-purity Ti3C2Tx MXenes with desirable surface terminations. The Ti3C2Tx MXene-based composite was characterized through various analytical techniques, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The resulting composites exhibit excellent of PtRu/Ti3C2Tx_FeF3 composite electrocatalyst in MOR activity, where the catalyst loading of 0.4 mgcm–2 produced the highest mass activity. Additionally, the FeF3/HCl etching route outperformed conventional LiF/HCl etching agents, delivering ∼4.7 times better in MOR activity. These findings underscore the potential of FeF3/HCl-etched Ti3C2Tx MXenes-based composites as promising materials for fuel cell applications and other energy-related processes.