This thesis is focused towards the synthesis and characterization of novel nanolaminated materials in primarily bulk (powder) form. Of particular interest is magnetic materials, or laminates that can be used as precursor for two-dimensional (2D) materials. 2D materials typically display a large surface-to-volume ratio, and as such they are very promising for applications within energy storage and catalysis. A more recently discovered family of 2D transition metal carbides/nitrides, called MXenes, are currently attracting a lot of attention. MXenes are produced by selective etching of parent 3D nanolaminates, so called MAX phases, facilitating removal of selected atomic layers, and formation of 2D sheets.

In my work on new nanolaminates as precursors for 2D materials, I have synthesized (Mo_2/3Sc_1/3)₂AlC and have studied its crystal structure. It was found that Mo and Sc are chemically ordered in the metal layers, with the in-plane ordering motivating the notation i-MAX for this new type of MAX phase alloy. By selective etching of Sc and Al, we thereafter produced a 2D materials with ordered vacancies, Mo_1.33C, and studied the electrochemical properties. It was found that the material displayed a high capacitance, ~1200 F cm^-3, which is 65% higher that the counterpart without vacancies, Mo₂C.

I also synthesized a previously not known out-of-plane ordered Mo₂ScAlC₂ MAX phase. By selective etching of Al, we produced a 2D material, Mo₂ScC₂, which is correspondingly ordered in the out-of-plane direction. Another related laminated material was also discovered and synthesized, Sc₂Al₂C₃, and its crystal structure was determined. The material is potentially useful for conversion into a 2D material. I have also shown that Sc₂Al₂C₃ is an example of a series of materials with the same crystal structure, with Sc replaced by other metals.

Magnetic materials are used in many applications, such as for data storage devices. In particular, layered magnetic materials are of interest due to their anisotropic structure and potential formation of interesting magnetic characteristics. I have been synthesizing and characterizing magnetic nanolaminates, starting with the (V,Mn)₃GaC₂ MAX phase in the form of an epitaxial thin film. Analysis of the magnetic behavior showed a ferromagnetic response above room temperature I thereafter showed that our previously discovered family of i-MAX phases could be expanded with a subclass of ordered nanolaminates based on rare earth (RE) elements, of the general formula (Mo_2/3RE_1/3)₂AlC , where RE=Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Lu. I studied their crystal structure by scanning transmission microscopy (STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and neutron diffraction. We found that these phases can crystalize in three different structures, of space group C2/m, C2/c, and Cmcm, respectively. The magnetic behavior was studied and the magnetic structure of two materials could be determined. We suggest that the complex behavior identified is due to competing magnetic interaction and frustration.

I also synthesized another rare earth-based nanolaminate, Mo₄Ce₄Al₇C₃. The crystal structure was investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction and STEM. Magnetization analysis reveal a ferromagnetic ground state below 10.5 K. X-ray absorption near-edge structure provide evidence that Ce is in a mixed-valence state. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism shows that only one of the two Ce sites are magnetic.