Engineering MXene Nanomaterials: Structure-Property Relationships, Functional Design, and Emerging Technologies

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemistry

Background:

• MXenes are a rapidly growing class of 2D transition-metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides.
• They exhibit diverse properties like tunable surface chemistry, metallic conductivity, and redox activity, making them promising for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cross-application engineering framework for MXene materials.
• To connect MXene synthesis and processing with multiscale structure, functional properties, and translational requirements for rational design.

Main Methods:

• Discussed major synthesis and processing strategies (selective etching, delamination, intercalation, surface modification, scalable fabrication).
• Analyzed relationships between MXene composition, morphology, surface chemistry, conductivity, electrochemical behavior, mechanical properties, and stability.
• Highlighted advances in functionalization, heterostructure construction, and composite engineering.

Main Results:

• Established structure-property relationships crucial for MXene material development.
• Demonstrated tailoring of MXene properties through functionalization and composite engineering for specific applications.
• Identified key challenges including oxidation, restacking, stability, safety, reproducibility, and industrial translation.

Conclusions:

• A design framework is proposed for engineering MXene nanomaterials.
• The framework facilitates the development of high-performance, stable, and scalable MXene-based technologies.
• Addresses critical challenges for industrial translation and future research directions.