Functional MXenes: Progress and Perspectives on Synthetic Strategies and Structure-Property Interplay for Next-Generation Technologies

MXenes are a class of 2D materials that include layered transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides. Since their inception in 2011, they have garnered significant attention due to their diverse compositions, unique structures, and extraordinary properties, such as high specific surface areas and excellent electrical conductivity. This versatility has opened up immense potential in various fields, catalyzing a surge in MXene research and leading to note worthy advancements. This review offers an in-depth overview of the evolution of MXenes over the past 5 years, with an emphasis on synthetic strategies, structure-property relationships, and technological prospects. A classification scheme for MXene structures based on entropy is presented and an updated summary of the elemental constituents of the MXene family is provided, as documented in recent literature. Delving into the microscopic structure and synthesis routes, the intricate structure-property relationships are explored at the nano/micro level that dictate the macroscopic applications of MXenes. Through an extensive review of the latest representative works, the utilization of MXenes in energy, environmental, electronic, and biomedical fields is showcased, offering a glimpse into the current technological bottlenecks, such asstability, scalability, and device integration. Moreover, potential pathways for advancing MXenes toward next-generation technologies are highlighted. MXenes have attracted significant attention from scientific community with unique structure and exceptional properties. As research has rapidly progressed, a comprehensive overview is needed to capture the latest advances and outline the future. This review attempts to fill this gap through an extensive analysis of MXenes, including their synthetic strategies, structure-property relations, and emerging application avenues.image

Automated summary

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the development of MXenes over the past 5 years, focusing on synthetic strategies, structure-property relationships, and technological prospects. It showcases the potential applications of MXenes in energy, environmental, electronic, and biomedical fields, while highlighting the technological challenges and future directions.