MXenes Thin Films: From Fabrication to Their Applications

Abstract

Two-dimensional MXenes possessed exceptional physiochemical properties such as high electrical conductivity (20,000 Scm−1), flexibility, mechanical strength (570 MPa), and hydrophilic surface functionalities that have been widely explored for energy storage, sensing, and catalysis applications. Recently, the fabrication of MXenes thin films has attracted significant attention toward electronic devices and sensor applications. This review summarizes the exciting features of MXene thin film fabrication methods such as vacuum-assisted filtration (VAF), electrodeposition techniques, spin coating, spray coating, dip-coating methods, and other physical/chemical vapor deposition methods. Furthermore, a comparison between different methods available for synthesizing a variety of MXenes films was discussed in detail. This review further summarizes fundamental aspects and advances of MXenes thin films in solar cells, batteries, electromagnetic interference shielding, sensing, etc., to date. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in terms of future research, development, and applications of MXenes-based films are discussed. A comprehensive understanding of these competitive features and challenges shall provide guidelines and inspiration for further growth in MXenes-based functional thin films and contribute to the advances in MXenes technology.

Can MXene be the Effective Nanomaterial Family for the Membrane and Adsorption Technologies to Reach a Sustainable Green World?

“…The highly preferred way in laboratory conditions for processing the MXene solutions to form a film is the filtration methods such as vacuum- and pressure-assisted filtration methods. In vacuum-assisted filtration methods, the MXene dispersion is filtered through a porous filter substrate under vacuum to form a free-standing MXene layer . Film thickness can be adjusted by varying the concentration of MXene in dispersion and filtration volume.…”

Ambient Processed rGO/Ti3CNTx MXene Thin Film with High Oxidation Stability, Photosensitivity, and Self-Cleaning Potential

“…Previous studies revealed that Ti 3 CNT x is less stable than Ti 3 C 2 T x , and the stability is even worse when fabricated as a thin film . It is known that MXene thin films degrade when exposed to a humid environment, which hampers many of their potential applications . Thus, we tested the environmental stability of Ti 3 CNT x thin films with an increased number of spin-coating cycles.…”

“…MXenes are a large family of 2D materials consisting of transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, first described in 2011 . MXene films exhibit high conductivity (>20000 S cm –1 according to some reports), hydrophilicity, and excellent water dispersibility, and robust photon absorption in a wide wavelength range . To date, Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene has received more attention than other MXenes due to its ease of fabrication, excellent electrochemical performance, tunable optical properties, and fair stability. , Solid solution MXenes, such as Ti 3 CNT x , are also starting to gain attention due to their intriguing physical properties .…”

The dawn of MXene duo: revolutionizing perovskite solar cells with MXenes through computational and experimental methods

“…Filtration is a self-limiting process, meaning that the film on the filter membrane will naturally become uniform and dense through van der Waals forces. 118 Subsequently, the thick MXene layer must be carefully detached from the filter membranes and can eventually be employed in various applications. The elements that influence film formation include the filter membrane type, the suction speed, the solvent used, and the concentration of MXene.…”