The present invention is directed to methods of transferring urea from an aqueous solution comprising urea to a MXene composition, the method comprising contacting the aqueous solution comprising urea with the MXene composition for a time sufficient to form an intercalated MXene composition comprising urea.

An electrocatalyst material having improved stability to corrosion compared to existing conductive high surface area carbon and metal carbide support materials is disclosed. The electrocatalyst material comprises (i) metal carbide nanotubes and (ii) a metal or metal alloy deposited on the metal carbide nanotubes. The electrocatalyst material is suitable for oxidising hydrogen, reducing oxygen or evolving hydrogen.

An electrocatalyst material having improved stability to corrosion compared to existing conductive high surface area carbon and metal carbide support materials is disclosed. The electrocatalyst material comprises (i) metal carbide nanotubes and (ii) a metal or metal alloy deposited on the metal carbide nanotubes. The electrocatalyst material is suitable for oxidising hydrogen, reducing oxygen or evolving hydrogen.

An electrically conductive thin film including a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 and having a layered crystal structure
Re.sub.2C  Chemical Formula 1
wherein Re is a lanthanide. Also an electronic device including the electrically conductive thin film.

Nanostructured carbide chemical compound is used to convert carbide to carbon. A method comprising: providing at least one carbide chemical compound and reducing a metal cation with use of the carbide chemical compound to form elemental carbon, wherein the carbide chemical compound is nanostructured. The nanostructured carbide chemical compound can be in the form of a nanoparticle, a nanowire, a nanotube, a nanofilm, a nanoline. The reactant can be a metal salt. Electrochemical reaction, or reaction in the melt or in solution, can be used to form the carbon. The nanostructured carbide chemical compound can be an electrode.

A composite comprising a MXene and a post-transition metal wherein the post-transition metal is at least partially encapsulated by from 1 to 4 layers of the MXene. Methods of making such a composite are also disclosed.

The present invention(s) is directed to novel conductive M.sub.n+1X.sub.n(T.sub.s) compositions exhibiting high volumetric capacitances, and methods of making the same. The present invention(s) is also directed to novel conductive M.sub.n+1X.sub.n(T.sub.s) compositions, methods of preparing transparent conductors using these materials, and products derived from these methods.

Copper ion-doped carbon dots (Cu-CDs) and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. The preparation method includes the following steps: using copper nitrate as a dopant to generate a complex of polyacrylic acid and copper ions as a precursor by an in situ polymerization; standing overnight, and performing repeated suction filtration to collect filter residues; then, performing pyrolysis and carbonization to generate carbonized products, dispersing in ultrapure water, taking a supernatant, and then performing extraction and purification to obtain the CDs. When the Cu-CDs prepared by the present invention are used in photodynamic therapy, photothermal/photodynamic synergistic therapy is not required, and the Cu-CDs are suitable for the therapeutic process of skin cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, brain glioma, as well as some skin diseases and ophthalmological diseases.

Copper ion-doped carbon dots (Cu-CDs) and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. The preparation method includes the following steps: using copper nitrate as a dopant to generate a complex of polyacrylic acid and copper ions as a precursor by an in situ polymerization; standing overnight, and performing repeated suction filtration to collect filter residues; then, performing pyrolysis and carbonization to generate carbonized products, dispersing in ultrapure water, taking a supernatant, and then performing extraction and purification to obtain the CDs. When the Cu-CDs prepared by the present invention are used in photodynamic therapy, photothermal/photodynamic synergistic therapy is not required, and the Cu-CDs are suitable for the therapeutic process of skin cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, brain glioma, as well as some skin diseases and ophthalmological diseases.

The present invention relates to a method for preparation of a powder comprising at least one carbide of at least one metal, comprising the steps consisting of: (a) preparing a solution comprising at least one organic gelling agent and at least one inorganic salt of at least one metal in a solvent; (b) modifying the pH of the solution prepared in step (a) in such a way as to precipitate said at least one metal and to obtain a colloidal suspension comprising nanoparticles of oxyhydroxides of said at least one metal; (c) removing the solvent from the colloidal suspension obtained in step (b) by which means a precursor of at least one carbide of at least one metal is obtained; and (d) subjecting the precursor obtained in step (c) to a thermal treatment in order to transform same into a powder comprising at least one carbide of at least one metal. The present invention also relates to the powder thus prepared and the various uses thereof.