MXenes: An Introduction of Their Synthesis, Select Properties, and Applications

Two dimensional (2D) carbides and nitrides, called MXenes, discovered in 2011, constitute a family of ≈ 30 members with different chemical compositions and chemical order. New compositions are being discovered routinely. The ease of MXene synthesis and their stability as colloidal suspensions in water and various organic solvents render this class of material relatively easy to process and scale-up. The combination of hydrophilicity and high electrical conductivities has rendered MXenes promising candidates for energy storage application, electromagnetic interference shielding, and transparent conductive electrodes among many more. Since their discovery, it has been shown that, for many applications, MXenes outperform existing 2D materials. Interest in MXenes is exploding worldwide, especially in China, with over 444 papers published in 2018 alone. Two dimensional (2D) materials have attracted significant attention in the past decade for their high application potential to address some of society’s most pressing issues such as energy storage and the scarcity of potable water. One of the latest, and relatively large, family of 2D materials is transition-metal carbides and nitrides, called MXenes. Since the initial synthesis of Ti3C2 in hydrofluoric acid in 2011, almost 30 other new compositions and at least eight different synthesis pathways have been reported. In this review, we overview the structure, synthesis, and chemistry of MXenes, with examples of their properties and potential applications that partially explain why these materials have become so popular. Two dimensional (2D) materials have attracted significant attention in the past decade for their high application potential to address some of society’s most pressing issues such as energy storage and the scarcity of potable water. One of the latest, and relatively large, family of 2D materials is transition-metal carbides and nitrides, called MXenes. Since the initial synthesis of Ti3C2 in hydrofluoric acid in 2011, almost 30 other new compositions and at least eight different synthesis pathways have been reported. In this review, we overview the structure, synthesis, and chemistry of MXenes, with examples of their properties and potential applications that partially explain why these materials have become so popular.