A review on overcoming challenges and pioneering advances: MXene-based materials for energy storage applications

Two-dimensional (2D) MXene-based materials have attracted considerable attention because of their distinctive physical and chemical properties, rendering them relevant in diverse domains like energy storage, catalysis, sensing, electronics and environmental remediation. Over the years, numerous high-quality review papers on MXene have been published, highlighting its synthesis methods, properties, and applications. However, there is hardly any review paper available on systematic study of synthesis-structure-mechanism-application-expansion aspects of MXene. The current review article provides an in-depth investigation of most used synthesis approaches of MXenes, structural, stability, electrical, hydrophilic and mechanical properties. Additionally, applications of MXenes as supercapacitors and electrode materials for batteries are covered in this article. However, MXenes have some limitations such as restacking, oxidation, and others which results in their low electrochemical performance. To overcome such limitations, various materials such as carbon, metal oxides, and conducting polymers were incorporated into the MXenes layers to improve their electrochemical performance. The article also addresses the challenges and potential solutions for MXene based materials for energy storage applications. Overall, the article provides valuable insights and various opportunities in supercapacitors and batteries to novices and the research community.