Recent Advanced Developments and Prospects of Surface Functionalized MXenes-Based Hybrid Composites toward Electrochemical Water Splitting Applications

Abstract

The rapid growth of the global population and industry has increased global warming and energy consumption. Clean, sustainable, and renewable sources of energy must be employed if this critical problem is to be resolved. Hydrogen (H2) has become one of the most promising fuel sources within the range of alternatives. A noteworthy method of creating hydrogen is by electrochemically splitting water into H2 and O2. As a result, the need for inexpensive, accessible catalysts with remarkable catalytic performance for producing environmentally friendly H2 has become crucial. The newly emerging class of 2-D layered MXenes, which consists of nitrides, transition metal carbides (TMC), and carbonitrides, is an impressive competitor in this race. MXenes offer excellent electrochemical properties, hydrophilicity, and reactivity, making them suitable for water-splitting applications. However, systematic reviews on strategies and mechanical chemistry of electrocatalytic water redox reactions for H2 productions are rare. This comprehensive review analysis addresses many strategies for boosting MXene catalytic efficiency during oxygen evolution (OER) and hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). These approaches include heteroatom doping, alloying, quantum dot doping, and plasma surface modification. Furthermore, this study highlights the many efforts and prospective paths for increasing the economic viability of MXenes as electrocatalysts for green H2 generation. As a result, this review opens new avenues for high-performance MXenes in green energy applications, promising a more sustainable energy future.