Shear properties and stable wrinkle resistance in 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene monolayers

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides or nitrides (MXenes), represented by Ti3C2Tx, exhibit exceptional mechanical and electrical properties, making them ideal candidates in aerospace, structural membranes, and flexible electronics. Understanding the mechanical properties of 2D Ti3C2Tx under various load conditions is crucial for ensuring structural integrity and performance reliability. Here, we conduct direct in-situ shear test of monolayer Ti3C2Tx nanosheets using a push-to-shear strategy under the scanning electron microscope. Contrary to the expected ultra-low shear performance and wrinkle instability of 2D materials, we report a high in-plane shear modulus of 0.279 ± 0.007 TPa for single-crystal monolayer Ti3C2Tx, along with stable wrinkle resistance. Additionally, the monolayer Ti3C2Tx exhibits a shear strength as high as ~18.6 GPa and an average shear strain of ~8.6%. This work provides direct measurement of the intrinsic shear properties of monolayer Ti3C2Tx and highlights the promising potential of Ti3C2Tx in maintaining device performance and reliability. Studying the intrinsic shear properties of Ti3C2Tx under in-plane shear loading is crucial for the stability of 2D flexible electronics. This work reports a high in-plane shear modulus of 0.279 ± 0.007 TPa, along with stable wrinkle resistance