MXenes for Zinc‐Based Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices

Abstract As an economical and safer alternative to lithium, zinc (Zn) is promising for realizing new high‐performance electrochemical energy storage devices, such as Zn‐ion batteries, Zn‐ion hybrid capacitors, and Zn‐air batteries. Well‐designed electrodes are needed to enable efficient Zn electrochemistry for energy storage. Two‐dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) are emerging materials with unique electrical, mechanical, and electrochemical properties and versatile surface chemistry. They are potential material candidates for constructing high‐performance electrodes of Zn‐based energy storage devices. This review first briefly introduces the working mechanisms of the three Zn‐based energy storage devices. Then, the recent progress on the synthesis, chemical functionalization, and structural design of MXene‐based electrodes is summarized. Their performance in Zn‐based devices is analyzed to establish relations between material properties, electrode structures, and device performance. Last, several research topics are proposed to be addressed for developing practical MXene‐based electrodes for Zn‐based energy storage devices to enable their commercialization and broad adoption in the near future.