According to the press office of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, this innovation will contribute to the development of more advanced supersonic aircraft.
Researcher Khamar Zaman Khan said: "Creating a sensor capable of withstanding repeated ultrasonic shocks without losing its sensitivity was a complex matter due to the extreme temperature fluctuations. But incorporating MXenes compounds within the necessary structural integrity enabled us to achieve this. As a result, we created a sensor that withstands these harsh conditions and responds to them much faster than its commercial counterparts."
Scientists explained that MXenes are novel two-dimensional materials composed of transition metal atoms and carbon, often containing nitrogen, fluorine, or oxygen. MXene films are completely transparent to light, yet possess unique properties that make them similar to metals, allowing for their use in a wide range of scientific and technological fields.
Russian scientists have discovered that MXenes can be used as an additive in polyvinylidene fluoride compounds, combining the polymer's flexibility with the ceramic's heat resistance. These materials are essential in the manufacture of ultrasonic sensors, as their interaction with ultrasonic waves leads to a sharp increase in internal temperature and pressure.
Based on these properties, scientists have created thin composite membranes no more than 90 micrometers thick, capable of withstanding temperatures up to 350 degrees Celsius while maintaining their efficiency.
Tests of sensors based on these membranes in an ultrasonic shock tube showed them to be approximately ten times faster than their commercial counterparts (33 microseconds versus 270 microseconds). Leading Russian aerospace and energy companies have expressed interest
in the project.
