Two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal carbon/nitrogen/carbon nitride (MXene) has extremely high conductivity and easily modifiable surface functional groups. Compared with graphene, another 2D layered material, MXene is easily dispersed in water owing to its hydrophilic groups. Its unique characteristics make MXene a valuable material. Nanocomposites can be endowed with functionality when MXene is compounded with an elastomer. Particularly in electromagnetic interference shielding and sensing, MXene exhibits extraordinary properties. We review various preparation methods, properties, and applications of MXene and MXene/elastomer nanocomposites and present a summary of the prospects for MXene/elastomer nanocomposites, which are in their initial stage of development and providing promising results.

Though numerous studies have focused on the cell wall disassembly of bananas during the ripening process, the modification of homogalacturonan (HG) during fruit development remains exclusive. To better understand the role of HGs in controlling banana fruit growth and ripening, RNA-Seq, qPCR, immunofluorescence labeling, and biochemical methods were employed to reveal their dynamic changes in banana peels during these processes. Most HG-modifying genes in banana peels showed a decline in expression during fruit development. Four polygalacturonase and three pectin acetylesterases showing higher expression levels at later developmental stages than earlier ones might be related to fruit expansion. Six out of the 10 top genes in the Core Enrichment Gene Set were HG degradation genes, and all were upregulated after softening, paralleled to the significant increase in HG degradation enzyme activities, decline in peel firmness, and the epitope levels of 2F4, CCRC-M38, JIM7, and LM18 antibodies. Most differentially expressed alpha-1,4-galacturonosyltransferases were upregulated by ethylene treatment, suggesting active HG biosynthesis during the fruit softening process. The epitope level of the CCRC-M38 antibody was positively correlated to the firmness of banana peel during fruit development and ripening. These results have provided new insights into the role of cell wall HGs in fruit development and ripening.

Clay modification by organic ammonium salts has been widely introduced in rubber/clay nanocomposites, but it is inapplicable in the polar rubbers to achieve high performance due to bad dispersion and poor compatibility. In this work, gel-compounding method was utilized to prepare nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/clay nanocomposite, and then a hindered phenol antioxidant, triethylene glycol bis(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)propionate (AO-245) with various contents, was mechanically blended to enhance the interactions in the nanocomposites. The elongation at break increases while the Shore A hardness, permanent set and stress at 100% or 300% strain decrease by adding AO-245 into the nanocomposites. By adding only 5 phr AO-245 in the nanocomposite, the tensile strength and elongation at break increased from 18.3 MPa and 521% to 20.5 MPa and 646%, respectively, which resulted from the repeated destruction/ construction of the hydrogen bonds between AO-245 and NBR. At high AO-245 content, both clay networks and AO-245 aggregate networks coexist in the nanocomposite, and the excess AO-245 in the NBR matrix can form a separated phase leading to a new internal friction peak.

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