Three-Dimensional Ti₃C₂T_x (MXenes) Film for Radionuclide Removal From an Aqueous Solution

Bolam Kim¹, Jiseon Jang^2,*, Dae Sung Lee^1,**

¹Kyungpook National University, 80, Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
²Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, 174, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea

Received 2025-02-15 ; Revised 2025-03-24 ; Approved 2025-04-03

Abstract

Two-dimensional MXenes (Ti3C2Tx) have received extensive attention due to their easy availability, hydrophilic behavior, and tunable chemical properties; however, their permeability-selectivity trade-off and self-stacking property limits their application in water treatment. In this study, three-dimensional Ti3C2Tx films with high adsorption capacity, permeability, and high selectivity were successfully fabricated using a simple vacuum-assisted filtration method for the removal of radionuclides (Cs+, Sr2+, and Co2+) from aqueous solutions. Various characterization results suggested that radionuclides tended to coordinate with heterogeneity of the sites (containing hydroxyl, fluorine, and oxygen groups) on Ti3C2Tx, as well as the multilayer adsorption properties of the Ti3C2Tx films. The synthesized Ti3C2Tx film demonstrated maximum removal efficiencies of 99.50%, 99.54%, and 99.8% for Cs+, Sr2+ and Co2+, respectively, at pH 7 and 25℃. The adsorption behavior and process analysis showed that the adsorption mechanism primarily involves electrostatic and chemical interactions on the Ti3C2Tx film. Furthermore, the films not only sequestrated radionuclides from the aqueous solution, but also selectively separated target radionuclides by adjusting the Ti3C2Tx interlayer size. Therefore, the newly developed Ti3C2Tx films demonstrated great potential for the removal of radionuclides from aqueous solutions.

Key Words : MXene (Ti3C2Tx) films, Radionuclides, Adsorption, Separation process, Interlayer