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

Noble metal (gold or silver) nanoparticles or patterned films are typically used as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Two-dimensional (2D) carbides and nitrides (MXenes) exhibit unique electronic and optical properties, including metallic conductivity and plasmon resonance in the visible or near infrared range, making them promising candidates for a wide variety of applications. Herein, we show that 2D titanium carbide, Ti3C2Tx, enhances Raman signal from organic dyes on a substrate and in solution. As a proof of concept, MXene SERS substrates were manufactured by spray-coating and used to detect several common dyes, with calculated enhancement factors reaching, similar to 10(6). Titanium carbide MXene demonstrates SERS effect in aqueous colloidal solutions, suggesting the potential for or environmental applications, where biomedical MXene can selectively enhance positively charged molecules.