image: Synthesis methods of light-emitting MQDs.
In a new publication from Opto-Electronic Advances; DOI https://doi.org/10.29026/oea.2021.200077, Researchers led by Professor Jeongyong Kim at the Department of Energy Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea review light-emitting MXene quantum dots.
MXenes have found wide-ranging applications in energy storage devices, sensors, catalysis, etc. owing to their high electronic conductivity and wide range of optical absorption. However, the absence of semiconducting MXenes has limited their applications related to light emission.
Extensively reviewing current relevant research, the authors summarise recent advances in MXene quantum dot (MQD) research on the synthesis, optical properties and applications of MQDs as light emitting quantum materials. Research has shown that quantum dots (QDs) derived from MXene (MQDs) not only retain the properties of the parent MXene but also demonstrate significant improvement on light emission and quantum yield.
The authors provide an overview of light emitting MQDs and their synthesis methods, optical properties, and applications in various optical, sensory, and imaging devices. Future prospects for light emitting MQDs are also discussed to provide insight to help further advance research.
Article reference: Sharbirin AS, Akhtar S, Kim JY. Light-emitting MXene quantum dots. Opto-Electron Adv 4, 200077 (2021) . doi: 10.29026/oea.2021.200077
Keywords: MXene, quantum dots, light emission, MAX phase, 2D materials
Professor Kim's research group carries out cutting-edge research on 2D materials focusing on their light emission properties. From 2014, the group has presented pioneering results on spatially and spectrally identifying the exciton complexes of 2D-transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2 and WS2. Using a variety of chemical or physical treatments or specific device configurations the group has demonstrated how to engineer or improve the emission characteristics of these 2D direct bandgap semiconductors. By recently extending the scope of the study on 2D materials into MXenes, the research group is now exploring non-toxic, bio-compatible and high-efficiency light emission by MQDs.