On the Topotactic Transformation of Ti2AlC into a Ti-C-O-F Cubic Phase by Heating in Molten Lithium Fluoride in Air.

Herein we report on the formation of a Ti-C-O-F phase via the topotactic transformation of Ti₂AlC by immersion in molten lithium fluoride, LiF, at 900°C in air for 2 h. The Al diffuses out of the structure and reacts with LiF to form Li₃AlF₆. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, showed the selective etching of Al from the structure and the formation of a cubic, rock-salt, Ti-C-O-F phase. The transformation is topotaxial, involves de-twinning of the hexagonal Ti₂AlC structure and results in domains that are of the order of 10 nm. The reaction rate is significantly higher when the reaction is carried out in air than when it is carried out in vacuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]