Two-Dimensional Titanium Carbide (MXene) as Surface-Enhanced\nRaman Scattering Substrate

Abstract

Noble metal (gold\nor silver) nanoparticles or patterned films are\ntypically used as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy\n(SERS). Two-dimensional (2D) carbides and nitrides (MXenes) exhibit\nunique electronic and optical properties, including metallic conductivity\nand plasmon resonance in the visible or near-infrared range, making\nthem promising candidates for a wide variety of applications. Herein,\nwe show that 2D titanium carbide, Ti₃C₂T_x, enhances Raman signal from organic dyes on a substrate and\nin solution. As a proof of concept, MXene SERS substrates were manufactured\nby spray-coating and used to detect several common dyes, with calculated\nenhancement factors reaching ∼10⁶. Titanium carbide\nMXene demonstrates SERS effect in aqueous colloidal solutions, suggesting\nthe potential for biomedical or environmental applications, where\nMXene can selectively enhance positively charged molecules.