Structural, optical, and mechanical characterization of PMMA-MXene composites functionalized with MEMO silane

Figures & data

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the experiment: (1) preparation of PMMA, (2) preparation of unmodified MXene in PMMA (PMMA-MX), and (3) preparation of MEMO silane-modified MXene in PMMA (PMMA-MXS).

Figure 2. FTIR spectra of MEMO silane functionalized MXene and pure MXene.

Figure 3. FTIR spectra of PMMA, PMMA-MX, and PMMA-MXS.

Figure 4. SEM images of (a) MXenes and (b) MEMO silane functionalized MXenes, (c) cross-section of PMMA-MX, (d) cross-section of PMMA-MXS and (e) schematic representation of the pristine Ti₃C₂T_x flakes reacting with the γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxy coupling agent.

Figure 5. Stress vs. strain diagram for the PMMA, PMMA-MX, and PMMA-MXS.

Table 1. Average values of Young’s modulus, tensile strength and strain at break, with corresponding standard deviations (SD).

Series	Young’s modulus (MPa)	SD (Mpa)	Tensile strength (Mpa)	SD (MPa)	Strain at break (%)	SD (%)
PMMA	1015.22	182.29	21.98	1.48	3.63	0.67
PMMA-MX	1235.81	192.21	23.96	1.88	2.33	0.41
PMMA-MXS	1291.75	164.68	30.05	4.06	3.96	0.50

Figure 6. XPS survey spectra of (a) MXene and (b) MEMO silane functionalized MXene, and (c) high-resolution XPS spectrum of Si 2p line of MEMO silane functionalized MXene.

Figure 7. Absorbance spectra of PMMA, PMMA-MX, and PMMA-MXS.

Figure 8. The optical transparency of PMMA, PMMA-MX, and PMMA-MXS samples.

Figure 9. Emission intensity (integrated-in-time) of time-resolved optical spectra of PMMA, PMMA-MX, and PMMA-MXS.

Figure 10. Streak images of time-resolved optical spectra of (a) PMMA, (b) PMMA-MX, and (c) PMMA-MXS.