Reuse & Permissions

It is not necessary to obtain permission to reuse this article or its components as it is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI are maintained. Please note that some figures may have been included with permission from other third parties. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper permission from the rights holder directly for these figures.

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Open Access

Transport properties of Ti3C2Tx MXene thin films under parallel and perpendicular magnetic fields

Rashed Aljasmi1,2, Sophia Tangui1, Simon Hurand1,*, Sophie Morisset3, Stéphane Célérier3, and Vincent Mauchamp1

  • *Contact author: simon.hurand@univ-poitiers.fr

APS Open Sci. 1, 000031 – Published 29 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/yx84-zxzf

Abstract

The magnetoconductance of Ti3C2Tx MXene thin films under both perpendicular and parallel magnetic fields is systematically investigated to elucidate how finite thickness impacts weak localization (WL). In thicker films (∼700nm), the magnetoconductance is nearly orientation independent, indicating a three-dimensional (3D) regime. In contrast, thinner films (≲70nm) exhibit pronounced angle-dependent WL, consistent with two-dimensional (2D) behavior. Notably, in some of these thinner films, a small negative magnetoconductance is also detected at low temperatures in parallel fields—a hallmark of weak antilocalization arising from spin-orbit coupling. By fitting the 2D data in both orientations, the key transport parameters are extracted, including an effective thickness of around 12 nm (smaller than the physical thickness) and dephasing lengths. These findings deepen the understanding of quantum interference in MXenes and lay the groundwork for harnessing their tunable dimensionality and spin-orbit effects in emerging electronic and spintronic applications.

View figure in article

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Article Text

References (59)

  1. M. Naguib, M. Kurtoglu, V. Presser, J. Lu, J. Niu, M. Heon, L. Hultman, Y. Gogotsi, and Michel W Barsoum, Two-dimensional nanocrystals produced by exfoliation of Ti3AlC2, in MXenes, edited by Y. Gogotsi (Jenny Stanford Publishing, New York, 2011), pp. 15–29.
  2. F. Shahzad, M. Alhabeb, C. B. Hatter, B. Anasori, S. Man Hong, C. M. Koo, and Y. Gogotsi, Electromagnetic interference shielding with 2D transition metal carbides (MXenes), Science 353, 1137 (2016).
  3. T. Guo, D. Zhou, S. Deng, M. Jafarpour, J. Avaro, A. Neels, J. Heier, and C. Zhang, Rational design of Ti3C2Tx MXene inks for conductive, transparent films, ACS Nano 17, 3737 (2023).
  4. Y. Chen, H. Yang, Z. Han, Z. Bo, J. Yan, K. Cen, and K. K. Ostrikov, MXene-based electrodes for supercapacitor energy storage, Energy Fuels 36, 2390 (2022).
  5. L. Lorencova, P. Kasak, N. Kosutova, M. Jerigova, E. Noskovicova, A. Vikartovska, M. Barath, P. Farkas, and J. Tkac, MXene-based electrochemical devices applied for healthcare applications, Microchim. Acta 191, 88 (2024).
  6. Y. Pei, X. Zhang, Z. Hui, J. Zhou, X. Huang, G. Sun, and W. Huang, Ti3C2Tx MXene for sensing applications: Recent progress, design principles, and future perspectives, ACS Nano 15, 3996 (2021).
  7. A. Gkountaras, Y. Kim, J. Coraux, V. Bouchiat, S. Lisi, M. W. Barsoum, and T. Ouisse, Mechanical exfoliation of select MAX phases and Mo4Ce4Al7C3 single crystals to produce MAXenes, Small 16, 1905784 (2020).
  8. B. Ansori and Y. Gogotsi, 2D Metal Carbides and Nitrides (MXenes): Structure, Properties and Applications (Springer Nature Switzerland AG, Cham, 2019).
  9. B. Anasori, C. Shi, E. J. Moon, Y. Xie, C. A. Voigt, P. R. C. Kent, S. J. May, S. J. L. Billinge, M. W. Barsoum, and Y. Gogotsi, Control of electronic properties of 2D carbides (MXenes) by manipulating their transition metal layers, Nanoscale Horiz. 1, 227 (2016).
  10. K. R. G. Lim, M. Shekhirev, B. C. Wyatt, B. Anasori, Y. Gogotsi, and Z. W. Seh, Fundamentals of MXene synthesis, Nat. Synth. 1, 601 (2022).
  11. B. Anasori and Y. Gogotsi, MXenes: Trends, growth, and future directions, Graphene 2D Mater. 7, 75 (2022).
  12. V. Kamysbayev, A. S. Filatov, H. Hu, X. Rui, F. Lagunas, D. Wang, R. F. Klie, and D. V. Talapin, Covalent surface modifications and superconductivity of two-dimensional metal carbide MXenes, Science 369, 979 (2020).
  13. S. Tangui, S. Hurand, R. Aljasmi, A. Benmoumen, M.-L. David, P. Moreau, S. Morisset, S. Célérier, and V. Mauchamp, 2D versus 3D-like electrical behavior of MXene thin films: Insights from weak localization in the role of thickness, interflake coupling and defects, Small 21, 2406334 (2025).
  14. J. Halim, M. R. Lukatskaya, K. M. Cook, J. Lu, C. R. Smith, L.-Å. Näslund, S. J. May, L. Hultman, Y. Gogotsi, P. Eklund et al., Transparent conductive two-dimensional titanium carbide epitaxial thin films, Chem. Mater. 26, 2374 (2014).
  15. E. Piatti, A. Arbab, F. Galanti, T. Carey, L. Anzi, D. Spurling, A. Roy, A. Zhussupbekova, K. A. Patel, J. M. Kim, et al., Charge transport mechanisms in inkjet-printed thin-film transistors based on two-dimensional materials, Nat. Electron. 4, 893 (2021).
  16. E. Abrahams, P. W. Anderson, D. C. Licciardello, and T. V. Ramakrishnan, Scaling theory of localization: Absence of quantum diffusion in two dimensions, Phys. Rev. Lett. 42, 673 (1979).
  17. P. A. Lee and TV Ramakrishnan, Disordered electronic systems, Rev. Mod. Phys. 57, 287 (1985).
  18. G. Bergmann, Weak localization in thin films: A time-of-flight experiment with conduction electrons, Phys. Rep. 107, 1 (1984).
  19. J. Rammer, Quantum Transport Theory (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2018).
  20. J. Halim, E. J. Moon, P. Eklund, J. Rosen, M. W. Barsoum, and T. Ouisse, Variable range hopping and thermally activated transport in molybdenum-based MXenes, Phys. Rev. B 98, 104202 (2018).
  21. S. Hikami, A. I. Larkin, and Y. Nagaoka, Spin-orbit interaction and magnetoresistance in the two dimensional random system, Prog. Theor. Phys. 63, 707 (1980).
  22. A. Kawabata, Theory of negative magnetoresistance. I. Application to heavily doped semiconductors, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 49, 628 (1980).
  23. M.-J. Jin, D.-S. Um, O. Ogbeide, C.-I. Kim, J.-W. Yoo, and J. Robinson, Crossover from weak anti-localization to weak localization in inkjet-printed Ti3C2Tx MXene thin-film, Adv. Nano Res. 13, 259 (2022).
  24. M. B. Lundeberg and J. A. Folk, Rippled graphene in an in-plane magnetic field: Effects of a random vector potential, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 146804 (2010).
  25. F. Chiappini, S. Wiedmann, M. Titov, A. K. Geim, R. V. Gorbachev, E. Khestanova, A. Mishchenko, K. S. Novoselov, J. C. Maan, and U. Zeitler, Magnetotransport in single-layer graphene in a large parallel magnetic field, Phys. Rev. B 94, 085302 (2016).
  26. C. J. Lin, X. Y. He, J. Liao, X. X. Wang, V. S. IV, W. M. Yang, T. Guan, Q. M. Zhang, L. Gu, G. Y. Zhang, C. G. Zeng, X. Dai, K. H. Wu, and Y. Q. Li, Parallel field magnetoresistance in topological insulator thin films, Phys. Rev. B 88, 041307(R) (2013).
  27. H. B. Zhang, H. L. Yu, D. H. Bao, S. W. Li, C. X. Wang, and G. W. Yang, Weak localization bulk state in a topological insulator Bi2Te3 film, Phys. Rev. B 86, 075102 (2012).
  28. D. Abraham and R. Rosenbaum, Magnetoresistance of thin copper films, Phys. Rev. B 27, 1413 (1983).
  29. T. Kawaguti and Y. Fujimori, Magnetoresistance and inelastic scattering time in thin films of silver and gold in weakly localized regime, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 52, 722 (1983).
  30. N. Giordano and M. A. Pennington, Two-dimensional weak localization in combined perpendicular and parallel magnetic fields, Phys. Rev. B 47, 9693 (1993).
  31. C. Barone, F. Romeo, S. Pagano, C. Attanasio, G. Carapella, C. Cirillo, A. Galdi, G. Grimaldi, A. Guarino, A. Leo, et al., Nonequilibrium fluctuations as a distinctive feature of weak localization, Sci. Rep. 5, 10705 (2015).
  32. S. Datta and B. Das, Electronic analog of the electro-optic modulator, Appl. Phys. Lett. 56, 665 (1990).
  33. S. A. Wolf, D. D. Awschalom, R. A. Buhrman, J. M. Daughton, S. von Molnár, M. L. Roukes, A. Y. Chtchelkanova, and D. M. Treger, Spintronics: A spin-based electronics vision for the future, Science 294, 1488 (2001).
  34. I. Žutić, J. Fabian, and S. Das Sarma, Spintronics: Fundamentals and applications, Rev. Mod. Phys. 76, 323 (2004).
  35. A. Manchon, H. C. Koo, J. Nitta, S. M. Frolov, and R. A. Duine, New perspectives for Rashba spin–orbit coupling, Nat. Mater. 14, 871 (2015).
  36. H. Pazniak, M. Benchakar, T. Bilyk, A. Liedl, Y. Busby, C. Noël, P. Chartier, S. Hurand, M. Marteau, L. Houssiau, R. Larciprete, P. Lacovig, D. Lizzit, E. Tosi, S. Lizzit, J. Pacaud, S. Célérier, V. Mauchamp, and M.-L. David, Ion implantation as an approach for structural modifications and functionalization of Ti3C2Tx MXenes, ACS Nano 15, 4245 (2021).
  37. S. Célérier, S. Hurand, C. Garnero, S. Morisset, M. Benchakar, A. Habrioux, P. Chartier, V. Mauchamp, N. Findling, B. Lanson, et al., Hydration of Ti3C2Tx MXene: An interstratification process with major implications on physical properties, Chem. Mater. 31, 454 (2018).
  38. R. Lontio Fomekong, J. Azadmanjiri, J. B. Matsoso, M. Serra, S. Akir, L. Dekanovsky, J. Luxa, E. Vejmelková, and Z. Sofer, Ti3AlC2 MAX phase conversion to a novel 2D titanium carbo-oxide by an eco-friendly and low-cost method: Highly selective gas sensing and supercapacitor evaluations, J. Mater. Chem. C 11, 6034 (2023).
  39. M. Benchakar, L. Loupias, C. Garnero, T. Bilyk, C. Morais, C. Canaff, N. Guignard, S. Morisset, H. Pazniak, S. Hurand, et al., One MAX phase, different MXenes: A guideline to understand the crucial role of etching conditions on Ti3C2Tx surface chemistry, Appl. Surf. Sci. 530, 147209 (2020).
  40. K. Instruments, Low Level Measurements Handbook: Precision DC Current, Voltage, and Resistance Measurements (Keithley Instruments, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, 2004), 6th ed.
  41. G. Bergmann, Physical interpretation of weak localization: A time-of-flight experiment with conduction electrons, Phys. Rev. B 28, 2914 (1983).
  42. B. L. Al’tshuler and A. G. Aronov, Magnetoresistance of thin films and of wires in a longitudinal magnetic field, JETP Lett. 33, 499 (1981).
  43. L. Kantorovich, Quantum Theory of The Solid State: An Introduction (Springer Science & Business Media, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 2004), Vol. 136.
  44. D. Magne, V. Mauchamp, S. Célérier, P. Chartier, and T. Cabioc’h, Spectroscopic evidence in the visible-ultraviolet energy range of surface functionalization sites in the multilayer Ti3C2 MXene, Phys. Rev. B 91, 201409(R) (2015).
  45. A. Benmoumen, M.-L. David, E. Gautron, S. Hurand, S. Tangui, L. Loupias, A. Habrioux, S. Célérier, P. Moreau, and V. Mauchamp, Structural and property engineering of 2D titanium carbides (MXene) thin films using ion irradiation, Appl. Surf. Sci. 652, 159206 (2024).
  46. S. W. Cho, M. Lee, S. Woo, K. Yim, S. Han, W. S. Choi, and S. Lee, Effect of Nb concentration on the spin-orbit coupling strength in Nb-doped SrTiO3 epitaxial thin films, Sci. Rep. 8, 5739 (2018).
  47. A. D. Caviglia, M. Gabay, S. Gariglio, N. Reyren, C. Cancellieri, and J.-M. Triscone, Tunable Rashba spin-orbit interaction at oxide interfaces, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 126803 (2010).
  48. M. Li, R. Yang, X. Wei, H. Yin, S. Wang, and K. Jin, Display of spin–orbit coupling at REAlO3/SrTiO3 (RE = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Gd) heterointerfaces, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 13, 21964 (2021).
  49. A. N. Enyashin and A. L. Ivanovskii, Two-dimensional titanium carbonitrides and their hydroxylated derivatives: Structural, electronic properties and stability of mxenes Ti3C2−xNx(OH)2 from dftb calculations, J. Solid State Chem. 207, 42 (2013).
  50. T. Hu, H. Zhang, J. Wang, Z. Li, M. Hu, J. Tan, P. Hou, F. Li, and X. Wang, Anisotropic electronic conduction in stacked two-dimensional titanium carbide, Sci. Rep. 5, 16329 (2015).
  51. M. Magnuson, P. Eklund, and C. Polley, Fermiology and band structure of oxygen-terminated Ti3C2Tx MXene, Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 106201 (2025).
  52. S. Urazhdin, E. Towsif, and A. Mitrofanov, Effects of spin-orbit interaction and electron correlations in strontium titanate, Phys. Rev. B 106, 224519 (2022).
  53. H. Fashandi, V. Ivády, P. Eklund, A. L. Spetz, M. I. Katsnelson, and I. A. Abrikosov, Dirac points with giant spin-orbit splitting in the electronic structure of two-dimensional transition-metal carbides, Phys. Rev. B 92, 155142 (2015).
  54. N. J. Lane, M. W. Barsoum, and J. M. Rondinelli, Correlation effects and spin-orbit interactions in two-dimensional hexagonal 5d transition metal carbides, Tan+1Cn (n = 1, 2, 3), Europhys. Lett. 101, 57004 (2013).
  55. O. de Leuze, F. M. Fernandes, S. Arib, L. Caputo, A. P. Fontes, V.-H. Nguyen, H. Pazniak, B. Nysten, J.-C. Charlier, S. Hermans, et al., Anisotropic charge transport in 2D single crystals of Ti3C2Tx MXenes, Commun. Mater. 6, 186 (2025).
  56. O. de Leuze, M. Berthe, S. Hermans, and B. Hackens, Nanoscale evidence of junction-limited transport in Ti3C2Tx MXene, Small 22, e14361 (2026).
  57. A. Lipatov, M. Alhabeb, M. R. Lukatskaya, A. Boson, Y. Gogotsi, and A. Sinitskii, Effect of synthesis on quality, electronic properties and environmental stability of individual monolayer Ti3C2 MXene flakes, Adv. Electron. Mater. 2, 1600255 (2016).
  58. A. Lipatov, S. Bagheri, and A. Sinitskii, Metallic conductivity of Ti3C2Tx MXene confirmed by temperature-dependent electrical measurements, ACS Mater. Lett. 6, 298 (2024).
  59. F. Urban, S. Ippolito, J. Frostad, J. D. Gouveia, J. R. B. Gomes, P. P. Michałowski, S. J. May, P. Samorì, and Y. Gogotsi, Influence of disorder on the electronic properties and magnetotransport of Ti3C2Tx single-flake devices, ACS Appl. Electron. Mater. 8, 732 (2026).

Outline

Information

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation