Nanolamellar Materials

The M_n+1AX_n  phases, or “MAX” phases, are nano-laminates, where M is an early transition metal, A belongs to groups 13-16, and X is either C or N. They were discovered some decades ago. In the research line Nanolamellar Materials, we grow single crystals of MAX phases using high temperature solution growth [1] and determine their physical properties, focusing on the anisotropies expected from their nano-lamellar structure. To cite but a few examples, in collaboration with our various partners, we have measured magneto-transport [2], band structure [3] or phonon dispersion [4] anisotropies of MAX phase single crystals. We also use our crystals for producing MXenes and studying their physical properties. We have just started to investigate new magnetic MAX phases and associated Mxenes within the framework of a European project involving LMGP, Institut Néel, Linköping University (LiU), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Drexel University, and ESRF as main partners [5]. We do not limit ourselves to nano-lamellar carbides, but we have also started to develop activities on nano-lamellar borides.

[5] Q. Tao et al. Physical Review Materials 2, 114401 (2018)
Rare-Earth (RE) Nanolaminates Mo₄RE₄Al₇C₄ Featturing Ferromagnetism and Mixed-Valence States

[4] A. Champagne et al. Materials Research Letters 6, 378 (2018)
Phonon Dispersion Curves in Cr₂AlC Single-Crystals

[3] D. Pinek et al. Physical Review B 100, 075144 (2019)
Unified Description of the Electronic Structure of M₂AC Nanolamellar Carbides

[2] T. Ouisse et al. Physical Review B 92, 045133 (2015)
Magnetotransport Properties of Nearly-Free Electrons in Two Dimensional Hexagonal Metals and Application to the M_n+1AX_n Phases

[1] L. Shi et al. Acta Materialia 83, 304 (2015)
Synthesis of Single Crystals of V₂AlC Phase by High-Temperature Solution Growth and Slow Cooling Technique