“Small”: MXene 3D-AJP—Achieving a Three-Dimensional, Oriented, Free-Form Network of Two-Dimensional MXene Nanosheets via Aerosol-Based 3D Printing Technology

With the rapid advancement of microelectronic devices and wearable technologies, on-chip energy storage components must balance high energy density with compact form factors. Micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) have emerged as a leading candidate; however, conventional planar electrode architectures suffer from low active-material loading and long ion‑transport pathways. Two-dimensional Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene materials, with their high specific surface area and excellent electrochemical performance, are an ideal choice for fabricating high‑performance MSCs. Nevertheless, their 3D assembly faces three major challenges: first, MXene nanosheets are held together only by weak van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds, lacking strong interfacial interactions and thus failing to maintain a stable 3D architecture; second, existing methods rely on binders and other additives, which can occupy active sites and degrade device performance; third, traditional 3D‑printing techniques exhibit low resolution (typically >40 μm) and low aspect ratios (generally <0.3), making it difficult to fabricate high‑fidelity, complex 3D microstructures. To address these bottlenecks, a team at Carnegie Mellon University has developed an additive‑free aerosol jet printing (AJP) technique that enables the 3D self‑supporting assembly of MXene nanosheets. The resulting work was published in the journal Small.

JACS: Micrometer‑scale precision—Aerosol jet printing enables controlled patterning and integration of COF thin films.

In the field of materials science, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are regarded as promising candidates for next-generation high-performance materials, owing to their high specific surface area, tunable pore structures, and exceptional functionality. However, conventional synthesis methods for COFs often encounter significant challenges in processing, shaping, and patterning: they are typically insoluble in common solvents, making it difficult to fabricate them into thin films or complex architectures using standard techniques.

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