Multifunctional Conductive MXene Binders for Battery and Supercapacitor Electrodes

Binders serve as a pivotal component in electrode fabrication as they can adhere active materials and conductive additives to the current collector. Nevertheless, the diversified development of electrochemical energy storage systems (ESSs) necessitates heightened functionality requirements for electrode binders, thereby motivating the exploration of a broad spectrum of binders tailored to fulfill various requirements. In recent years, two-dimensional Ti₃C₂T_x MXene has emerged as a promising binder candidate for electrode fabrication. Compared to traditional polymer binders, MXene offers a unique combination of properties highly beneficial for electrode fabrication, including metallic electrical conductivity, exceptional mechanical/adhesion strength, intrinsic flexibility, rich surface chemistry, and good electrochemical activity. These features collectively improve the electrochemical performance of the as-fabricated electrodes, including capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability, across diverse ESSs. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of recent advances in multifunctional MXene binder for electrode fabrication, particularly in combination with diverse active materials for ESSs. The fabrication strategies, advantages, multifunctionalities, and energy storage applications, along with their inherent structure-activity relationships, are comprehensively discussed. The challenges and future perspectives associated with the MXene binder are also highlighted, aiming to offer a foundational reference for developing advanced binder systems for next-generation, high-performance ESSs.