MXenes

Researchers have developed a straightforward method to produce water-repellent graphene, enhancing its potential applications in various industries.

A review in Nano Research highlights how terminal groups (Tₓ) on MXenes influence their properties and applications, emphasizing their potential for tailored electronic, optical, and mechanical functionalities.

Researchers have created an MXene-based flame retardant for waterborne epoxy coatings, significantly improving fire protection and thermal performance.

Researchers at Taiyuan University of Technology, led by Sang Shengbo, have developed a multi-responsive MXene actuator capable of programmable complex deformations. This advancement is significant for the development of soft robotics, which can benefit from the unique properties of MXene materials.

Researchers have optimized reduced Ti3C2 MXene to achieve a photothermal conversion efficiency of 91.66% under an 808-nanometer laser. This enhancement in free electron concentration can significantly improve MXene's performance in photothermal applications, potentially impacting fields like energy conversion and thermal management.

Researchers at Tsinghua University have developed a method to interface MXene flakes on fiber fabric, enhancing its capability as an ultrafast electron transport layer. This advancement could significantly improve the performance of carbon fiber composites in electronic applications.

Researchers at OuluREPO have developed MXene-based hybrid architectures designed for use in potassium-ion and aluminium-ion battery systems. This advancement could enhance the performance and efficiency of batteries utilizing MXene materials, potentially impacting energy storage solutions.

The MXeneCatSus COST Action is a European research network established to engineer MXene-based catalysts—two-dimensional materials made from Earth-abundant elements—for hydrogen generation, CO2 conversion, and nitrogen fixation. The initiative is relevant to advanced carbon materials research as MXenes share structural and functional characteristics with other 2D carbon materials and are being developed as alternatives or complements to graphene in catalytic applications.

Researchers at the University of Johannesburg fabricated a three-layer nanocomposite photocatalyst (Ti1.33N@BiVO4/GdIn2Se3) incorporating a custom-synthesized MXene, achieving 20× greater electrical conductivity and charge-carrier lifetimes up to 59.5 seconds compared to single-component baselines. The MXene engineering approach demonstrates a pathway for improving charge-carrier retention in 2D carbon-adjacent materials, with direct relevance to MXene-based composite development for energy and environmental applications.