Solid-Solution MXenes: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Two-Dimensional (2D) Materials
• Nanomaterials

Background:

• MXenes are a fast-growing class of 2D materials with diverse applications.
• Traditional MXenes primarily focus on single-element compositions (e.g., Ti3C2Tx).
• Alloying is a known strategy for enhancing material properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in solid-solution MXenes.
• To highlight the synthesis, properties, and applications of these tunable materials.
• To demonstrate how multi-elemental compositions enable property tailoring for specific uses.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of elemental substitution on metal (M) and carbon/nitrogen (X) sites.
• Synthesis of multi-M (multi-metal) solid-solution MXenes.
• Characterization of structural, chemical, electronic, optical, and mechanical properties.

Main Results:

• Solid-solution MXenes offer a vast compositional and structural diversity.
• Multi-M solid-solutions allow for precise control over material properties.
• Tunable properties include electrical conductivity, optical responses, and chemical behavior.

Conclusions:

• Solid-solution MXenes represent the most tunable class of MXenes.
• Their unique properties, accessible through compositional engineering, are crucial for advanced applications.
• Further research into solid-solution MXenes promises novel functionalities and expanded material design.