Challenges and Future Prospects of the MXene-Based Materials for Energy Storage Applications

Abstract

In the past decade, MXenes, a new class of advanced functional 2D nanomaterials, have emerged among numerous types of electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage devices. MXene and their composites have opened up an interesting new opportunity in the field of functional materials, owing to their transition metal nitrides/carbides/carbonitride-based unique layered structures, higher electrical and thermal conductivity, higher charge carrier mobility, high negative zeta-potential, high mechanical properties, tunable bandgap, superior hydrophilicity, metallic nature and rich surface chemistry, which enhance the number of metal active redox sites on the surface and short ion diffusion path. However, in the case of electrochemical energy storage applications, the unavoidable problem of aggregation and nanosheet restacking significantly reduces the accessibility of the active surface sites of MXene materials for electrolyte ions. Currently, there is a number of research efforts devoted to solutions in order to avoid these deficits. This Review complies extensively with the recent advances in the application of MXene-based materials in the energy storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors. Particular attention is paid to the understanding of the relation of MXenes chemical composition, and morphology with their electrochemical performances. Moreover, the challenges of MXenes and MXene-based composited for the commercial application are considered and the ways to overcome their drawbacks are provided. Finally, opportunities given with MXenes for future research on novel energy storage materials are highlighted.

Several Fundamental Aspects of MXene: Synthesis and Their Applications

“…As a result, additional research is needed to strike a balance between and high-volume capacitance and high-rate electrochemical performance. [98][99][100] Furthermore, a wide range of MAX phases must be investigated for the potential fabrication of novel MXene structures. Also, additive manufacturing (AM) methods should be adopted for fabrication of MAX phases.…”

“…The increased interlayer distances allow for faster diffusion of electrolytes and ions resulting in greater electrochemical performance. As a result, additional research is needed to strike a balance between and high‐volume capacitance and high‐rate electrochemical performance [98–100] …”

A Review of Nb2CTx MXene as an Emerging 2D Material: Synthesis, Applications in Rechargeable Batteries and Supercapacitors, Progress, and Outlook

“…Nb-based electrode-active materials were explored in electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices in the recent past due to their exciting physical and chemical properties . In comparison with Nb-based materials, the Nb 2 CT x MXene has efficient energy storage capability, pseudocapacitive behavior, hardness, and prominent physicochemical properties. , The Nb 2 C MXene has received great attention in the supercapacitor application due to its high power density and efficient electrochemical energy storage characteristics. , The Nb 2 CT x MXene possesses good electronic conductivity with a specific resistivity of ∼4.6 mΩ cm; this value is higher than those of Zr-based carbides and Ti-based carbides . The importance of the Nb 2 CT x MXene can be visualized from its applications in different research areas; a bar diagram representing the same is depicted in Figure .…”

A MXene–BiFeO3–ZnO nanocomposite photocatalyst served as a high-performance supercapacitor electrode

“…Moreover, MXenes can be easily functionalized with different surface groups, enabling the design of various cocatalysts for specific photocatalytic applications. 37,38 BiFeO 3 and ZnO nanoparticles are considered well-suited candidates as photocatalysts due to their non-toxic nature, chemical stability, and effective absorption of a significant portion of the solar spectrum. ZnO nanoparticles act as an excellent n-type semiconductor with BiFeO 3 perovskite due to their high electron mobility and higher band gap (3.1 eV), facilitating efficient, fast electron transfer from BiFeO 3 to ZnO, reducing the recombination of electrons and holes.…”