Electronic and Optical Properties of 2D Transition Metal Carbides and Nitrides (MXenes)

2D transition metal carbides, carbonitrides, and nitrides, known as MXenes, are a rapidly growing family of 2D materials with close to 30 members experimentally synthesized, and dozens more studied theoretically. They exhibit outstanding electronic, optical, mechanical, and thermal properties with versatile transition metal and surface chemistries. They have shown promise in many applications, such as energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, transparent electrodes, sensors, catalysis, photothermal therapy, etc. The high electronic conductivity and wide range of optical absorption properties of MXenes are the key to their success in the aforementioned applications. However, relatively little is currently known about their fundamental electronic and optical properties, limiting their use to their full potential. Here, MXenes' electronic and optical properties from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, as well as applications related to those properties, are discussed, providing a guide for researchers who are exploring those properties of MXenes.