Insights into the Photothermal Conversion of 2D MXene Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Mechanism, and Applications

Since their discovery in 2011, 2D transition metal carbide/nitride (MXene) materials have received extensive interest due to their unique planar structure, chemical diversity, and superior physiochemical features. Very recently, MXenes have demonstrated outstanding photothermal conversion by virtue of excellent electromagnetic wave absorption capacity and a localized surface plasmon resonance effect. Photothermal conversion is an efficient way to utilize solar energy that allows the transformation of solar illumination into thermal energy, thus enabling MXenes to be applied in various fields, such as solar steam generation and biomedicals. However, the light-to-heat capability of MXenes has been paid much less attention until now. Recent progress in photothermal MXenes is reviewed to provide a comprehensive understanding of their photothermal conversion mechanism and applications. First, synthetic strategies of MXenes and their nanocomposites will be briefly summarized, and the discussion of the photothermal conversion mechanism and, most importantly, current advances in their photothermal applications will follow. It is highly anticipated that 2D MXenes, through elaborate material design and interdisciplinary approach, will become one of the mainstream photothermal materials and their application fields will also be expanded in the near future.