Synthesis and characterization of chromium aluminum carbide MAX phases (CrxAlCx-1) for potential biomedical applications

MAX phases, characterized as nanolaminates of ternary carbides/nitrides structure, possess a unique combination of ceramic and metallic properties, rendering them pivotal in materials research. In this study, chromium aluminum carbide ternary compounds, Cr 2 AlC (211), Cr 3 AlC 2 (312), and Cr 4 AlC 3 (413) were successfully synthesized with high purity using a facile and cost-effective sol-gel method. Structural, morphological, and chemical characterization of the synthesized phases was conducted to understand the effects of composition changes and explore potential applications. Comprehensive characterization techniques including XRD for crystalline structure elucidations, SEM for morphological analysis, EDX for chemical composition, Raman spectroscopy for elucidation of vibrational modes, XPS to analyze elemental composition and surface chemistry, and FTIR spectroscopy to ensure the functional groups analysis, were performed. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the high purity of the synthesized Cr 2 AlC phase as well as other ternary compounds Cr 3 AlC 2 and Cr 4 AlC 3 , suggesting its suitability as a precursor for MXenes production. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and biocompatibility assessments against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ), and HepG2 cell line were investigated. The results demonstrated significant antifungal activity of the synthesized phases against Candida albicans and negligible impact on the viability of E. coli and S. aureus . Interestingly, lower concentrations of Cr 2 AlC MAX phase induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells by triggering intercellular oxidative stress, while Cr 3 AlC 2 and Cr 4 AlC 3 exhibited lower cytotoxicity compared to Cr 2 AlC, highlighting their potential in biomedical applications.

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