Recent advancements in MXenes synthesis, properties, and cutting-edge applications: A comprehensive review

MXenes are a new and advanced category of two-dimensional (2D) materials that have attracted significant attention in nanomaterials science and engineering because of their unique properties and potential applications in a wide range of fields, including energy storage, catalysis, sensors, high-performance supercapacitors, and electronics. Recent advancements in MXenes have focused on improving their synthesis methods, characterization techniques, processing, new MXenes materials, novel applications, and properties. One of the main challenges in MXene synthesis is scalability. Our review studies have demonstrated high-throughput and scalable methods for synthesizing MXenes, including microwave-assisted, molten salt etching, and hydrothermal methods. Researchers have successfully synthesized MXenes with different transition metals (V, Nb, Mo, W, and Hf) and surface functional groups, such as Mo2TiC2Tx, V2CTx, and Nb2CTx, with acceptable properties. Also, some new studies have been carried out about the surface modification of MXenes with organic molecules, polymers, or nanoparticles that can improve their mechanical, electrical, and optical properties. Recent study trends show that most research in this field in the future will focus on improving the properties of these materials by concentrating on new compositions and the most sustainable and cost-effective synthesis method. This review provides information on how synthesis routes and application of MXene have been developed since the discovery to date and provides prospective and ideas for researchers in the field.