A collaborative research team composed of Professor Han‑jung Kwon's team (Division of Advanced Materials Engineering) at JBNU and Professor Jong‑min Koo's team (Division of Advanced Materials Engineering) at Sungkyunkwan University has announced research results that can dramatically improve the performance of MXene, a next‑generation advanced material that can be widely used in advanced electronic devices.

MXene is a two‑dimensional nanomaterial in which metal layers and carbon layers are stacked alternately, and it is called a "dream material" because of its excellent electrical conductivity. However, until now, defects such as tiny holes (pores) in the atomic arrangement or unwanted oxygen adsorption have occurred during the manufacturing process, causing the material's performance to deteriorate quickly or the material to be easily degraded in air.

The JBNU–Sungkyunkwan University collaborative team overcame these shortcomings by employing a new strategy called "precursor‑based defect engineering," substantially enhancing MXene's electromagnetic shielding, heat generation (Joule heating), and thermal detection evasion (infrared stealth) performance. The results are evaluated as having resolved the long‑standing issues of low stability and performance degradation in MXene, thereby setting a new milestone for future electronic devices and defense technologies.

The study lists Dr. Tufail Hassan of Sungkyunkwan University and Do‑yeon Lee, a researcher at JBNU, as co‑first authors, and the paper was published in the leading nanoscience journal Nano‑Micro Letters (IF 36.3).

The research team minimized these defects by precisely controlling the precursor material, the stage prior to synthesizing MXene. This approach is analogous to tightly weaving fabric from the start so that no holes form. The defect‑minimized MXene exhibited far superior electrical conductivity (26,000 S/cm) and thermal conductivity (57 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹) compared with previous materials.

As a result, even at a very thin thickness of 10 micrometers (µm), the material achieved electromagnetic shielding performance of 90.5 dB—world‑leading performance capable of preventing malfunctions in smartphones and communication equipment. It also demonstrated excellent efficiency, generating heat up to 263°C almost instantaneously under a very low voltage (1.5 V), and fully realized thermal detection evasion (stealth) performance by lowering radiative temperature below ambient temperature so as not to be detected by infrared cameras.

Of particular note is stability. Conventional MXene dispersed in water underwent oxidation and rapidly lost performance over time. The developed MXene demonstrated outstanding oxidation stability and durability, maintaining over 95% of its performance even after one year (12 months).

Professor Jong‑min Koo commented, "This study reveals that controlling defects at the atomic level is the key factor determining a material's overall performance and lifespan," and added, "We expect this will accelerate the practical application of MXene in various fields such as advanced electronic devices, energy devices, and defense industries that require infrared camouflage."

Meanwhile, this research was conducted with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea's Nano and Materials Program, the Basic Research Laboratory Program, and the Mid‑Career Researcher Support Program.