Cost analysis of MXene for low-cost production, and pinpointing of its economic footprint

Abstract

MXene, a two-dimensional (2D) carbide, carbonitride, and nitride, was discovered in 2011. A certain number of elements in the periodic table have contributed to the synthesis of MXene from the beginning to the present. Most researchers, however, are focused on a particular type of MXene, Ti3C2Tx, although the scientific community seldom considers the synthesis cost of this outstanding and potentially helpful substance. Herein, we explore the cost of MXene by going through each stage of the production process. Instead, the actual cost may vary by a small margin due to differences in the materials and procedures. However, this study provides a clear understanding of the cost, which is governed by the steps directly involved in the synthesis and characterization of MXene. The cost associated with various essential characterization tools like scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) is necessary to ensure the successful synthesis of MXene. All local expenses are converted into USD, except for the instrumental life cycle analysis and infrastructure cost values. The cost of each gram of MXene is predicted to be $20.33. The predicted cost is close to the market price of MXene, proving the accuracy of the cost calculation presented in this research. This work will assist the scientific community in planning and optimizing MXene's synthesis procedures so that the production cost can be potentially reduced if this material is produced on a larger scale. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]