Ultralight Conductive MXene Aerogels: From Material Design to Energy, Environment, and Electronic Applications

MXene-based aerogels have emerged as a fast-growing family of porous materials that merge the intrinsic electrical conductivity and layered morphology of MXenes with an ultralight, great surface-area framework of aerogels. This synergistic integration results in materials that exhibit excellent charge and heat transport, mechanical flexibility, and broad multifunctionality. This review summarizes the fundamental design strategies underlying MXene aerogels, with particular attention to how pore structure, architectural organization, and surface functionalization govern their performance. Advanced characterization techniques are highlighted for their role in revealing structure-property correlations. Key application areas are surveyed, spanning energy storage, sensing technologies, environmental remediation (including solar desalination and water treatment), catalysis, electromagnetic interference shielding, and thermal regulation. The review also identifies critical barriers to practical implementation, such as environmental susceptibility, degradation mechanisms, and performance trade-offs between conductivity and other functional attributes. Finally, future prospects are discussed, emphasizing AI-enabled materials design, greener synthesis strategies, scalable manufacturing, and integration into next-generation technologies, including soft robotics, neuromorphic systems, and bioelectronic platforms.