Single-Atom-Thick Active Layers Realized in Nanolaminated Ti-3(AlxCu1-x)C-2 and Its Artificial Enzyme Behavior

A Ti-3(AlxCu1-x)C-2 phase with Cu atoms with a degree of ordering in the A plane is synthesized through the A site replacement reaction in CuCl2 molten salt. The weakly bonded single -atom -thick Cu layers in a Ti-3(AlxCu1-x)C-2 MAX phase provide actives sites for catalysis chemistry. As -synthesized Ti-3(AlxCu1-x)C-2 presents unusual peroxidase-like catalytic activity similar to that of natural enzymes. A fabricated Ti-3(AlxCu1-x)C-2/chitosan/glassy carbon electrode biosensor prototype also exhibits a low detection limit in the electrochemical sensing of H2O2. These results have broad implications for property tailoring in a nanolaminated MAX phase by replacing the A site with late transition elements.Funding Agencies|National Natural Science Foundation of China [21671195, 91426304]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW 2015.0043]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [EM16-0004]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009 00971]; [RIF 14-0074]