Recent Advances and Promise of MXene-Based Nanostructures for High-Performance Metal Ion Batteries

MXenes, a large family of 2D transition metal carbides or carbonitrides, possessing exceptional conductivity in the crystal core and ample functional groups (e.g., -OH, -F, -O) on their surface, low energy barriers for metal ion diffusion, and large interlayer spaces for ion intercalation, are opening up various intriguing opportunities to construct advanced MXene-based nanostructures for different-type metal ion batteries (MIBs) with remarkable energy density and power density. Herein, this work summarizes the recent advances in MXene-based nanostructures for high-performance MIBs from lithium ion batteries to non-lithium (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Ca2+) ion batteries, in which the unique roles of MXenes as active materials, conductive substrates, and even current collectors are highlighted. Furthermore, the loaded model, encapsulated model, and sandwiched model are clarified in detail for MXene-based hybrids with different dimensional (0D, 1D, and 2D) active materials, and each structural model is well exampled for different MIBs with special emphasis of synergistic effects and strong interaction interfaces between MXene and active materials. Finally, the existing challenges and perspectives of MXene-based nanostructures are briefly discussed for MIBs.