MXene-based composites and their applications

MXenes have received remarkable attention due to their outstanding physical and chemical properties. They exhibit exceptional tunable performance due to their 2D structure and rich functional group, making them easy to combine with other materials such as polymers, metal oxides, 2D chalcogenides, carbonaceous, and organic hybrid materials to meet the high-performance requirements. Furthermore, MXenes and their composites have shown outstanding electrical, mechanical, and optical properties due to their functional groups and surface chemistry. This chapter covers the synthesis, surface mechanism, and applications of MXenes and related composites. For a better understanding, we address the fundamentals of MXenes to their associated fabrication techniques, including HF etching, exfoliation delamination, in-situ polymerisation, hydrothermal, etc. Then, applications of MXenes are discussed, such as energy storage in supercapacitors, batteries, solar cells, and sensors. Moreover, EMI shielding performance, water remediation, and catalytic activity of MXene/composite are highlighted. In the last part, the challenges and prospects of the MXenes and composites have been addressed to evaluate the general complications, problems, and possible solutions of the materials during synthesis and applications.