Maximizing the safety and sustainability of MXenes
Journal article, 2024
Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) is a new regulatory concept guiding chemical and material innovation. The European Commission has recommended a two-stage SSbD framework and plan to revise it based on stakeholder feedback. The framework involves establishing key (re)design SSbD principles and assessment of the final innovation, however the applicability of the framework to advanced materials remains to be addressed. Here, we applied the SSbD framework on Ti3C2Tx MXenes, an emerging advanced material, by (1) reviewing health, environmental and safety information; (2) characterizing MXenes transformation/dissolution in different media; (3) conducting (eco)toxicological experiments, and (4) completing a prospective life-cycle assessment. Our analysis suggests that Ti3C2Tx is safe and sustainable when applying the SSbD framework. Further research is needed regarding long-term hazardous effects of Ti3C2Tx and the sustainable production of the titanium precursor. Guidance is also needed on how much weight one should assign to the different lines of evidence in the overall SSbD assessment.
Safe and sustainable by design
Advanced materials
MXenes
Life cycle assessment
Author
Steffen Foss Hansen
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Maria Bille Nielsen
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Lars Michael Skjolding
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Jasreen Kaur
Karolinska Institutet
Nindya Desivyana
Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Environmental Systems Analysis
Frida Hermansson
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Environmental Systems Analysis
James Bird
University of Manchester
Suelen Barg
University of Augsburg
Alexander Khort
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Inger Odnevall
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Bengt Fadeel
Karolinska Institutet
Rickard Arvidsson
Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Environmental Systems Analysis
Scientific Reports
2045-2322 (ISSN) 20452322 (eISSN)
Vol. 14 1 31030Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Materials Engineering
Nano Technology
Environmental Health and Occupational Health
DOI
10.1038/s41598-024-82063-w