This technology introduces a novel method for integrating 2D materials into ceramics without high-temperature degradation, enhancing their electrical and mechanical properties. It was jointly developed by leading researchers Yury Gogotsi at Drexel University and Clive Randall at Penn State University and is available for licensing. Nanocomposites containing two-dimensional (2D) materials have gained significant attention in recent years for their ability to enhance the properties of ceramics, including electrical conductivity, thermal stability, mechanical strength, and hardness. However, the integration of 2D materials into ceramic composites has faced significant challenges due to the high temperatures (typically above 800°C) required for conventional ceramic sintering processes. At such temperatures, 2D materials often degrade, undergo oxidation, or react chemically with the ceramic matrix, making it difficult to preserve their unique properties. This limitation has significantly hindered the application of advanced 2D materials like MXenes in ceramics.

MXenes, a growing family of two-dimensional inorganic materials first discovered at Drexel University, have shown exceptional potential due to their unique electrical, thermal, and structural properties. When combined with the cold sintering process (CSP)—a groundbreaking technology developed at Penn State University that enables densification of ceramics at temperatures as low as 300°C—these materials can now be successfully integrated into ceramic matrices without degradation.

This patent pending technology leverages this transformative approach by combining MXenes with CSP to create advanced ceramic nanocomposites with unprecedented performance. The collaboration between researchers at Drexel and Penn State has demonstrated this capability through the co-sintering of Ti₃C₂Tₓ (a MXene material) with ZnO, a model ceramic oxide, to form ZnO-Ti₃C₂ nanocomposites. These composites achieve up to 98% of theoretical density at 300°C, preserving the structural integrity of the MXene while ensuring its homogeneous distribution along ceramic grain boundaries. This innovation opens new opportunities for the use of MXenes in ceramics, enabling high-performance materials for applications ranging from electronics to thermal management and beyond.