Recent Progress on MXenes as an Attenuator of Terahertz Radiation

MXenes have developed as an astonishing family of 2D layered materials that have piqued the interest of scientists from a wide range of scientific disciplines. The amalgamation of characteristics distinguishes MXenes from other materials, including their excellent electrical conductivity, hydrophilicity due to functionalized surfaces, higher negative zeta potential, and ability to support stable colloidal solutions in water, which has enabled a wide range of applications. Scientists have been compelled to examine the terahertz absorption characteristics of MXenes since 2019 due to their amazing microwave attenuation efficacy, large specific surface area (SSA), fragility, good strength, varied electromagnetic (EM) response, precise layer spacing, and strong internal conductivity, which have been demonstrated to greatly increase terahertz absorption. Regardless of the type of filler utilized, the reflection of produced composites is often insignificant compared to the overall effectiveness of shielding. This suggests that the dominant shielding mechanism appears to be the absorption component, which is the difference between the total shielding efficacy and its reflection component. The shielding efficiency of graphene composites is greater than 40 dB for frequencies greater than 2.2 THz, whereas that of MXene composites is lower than 10 dB for the entire frequency range under study, necessitating further investigation to create MXene-based composites with higher shielding efficiency. In view of the lack of reviews on MXene (2D materials) with terahertz absorption properties, here we review all of the data on MXenes-primarily based on terahertz-absorbing composites-and provide a modern-day examination of MXenes as terahertz absorbers, their fabrication and their expanding application in a variety of fields.

Automated summary

MXenes are a family of 2D layered materials that have attracted the interest of scientists due to their unique characteristics, including excellent electrical conductivity, hydrophilicity, and stable colloidal solutions. The terahertz absorption properties of MXenes have been extensively studied since 2019, showing promising results in microwave attenuation and electromagnetic response. However, MXene composites have lower shielding efficiency compared to graphene composites, indicating a need for further research in creating MXene-based composites with higher shielding efficiency. This review provides a comprehensive examination of MXenes as terahertz absorbers, including their fabrication and expanding applications.