Sodium hydroxide and vacuum annealing modifications of the surface terminations of a TiC (MXene) epitaxial thin film.

We investigate, and quantify, changes in structure and surface terminations of epitaxial thin films of titanium carbide (TiC) MXene, when treated by sodium hydroxide solution followed by vacuum annealing at 550 °C. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy, we show that NaOH treatment produce an increase in the -lattice parameter together with an increase in the O terminations and a decrease in the F terminations. There is also an increase in the percentage of the binding energy of Ti-species in Ti 2p XPS region, which suggests an increase in the overall oxidation state of Ti. After subsequent annealing, the -lattice parameter is slightly reduced, the overall oxidation state of Ti is decreased, and the F surface terminations are further diminished, leaving a surface with predominantly O as the surface terminating species. It is important to note that NaOH treatment facilitates removal of F at lower annealing temperatures than previously reported, which in turn is important for the range of attainable properties.