MXene, an advanced family of 2D ceramic material resembling graphene, has had a considerable impact on the field of research because of its unique physiochemical properties. MXene has been synthesized by the selective etching of MAX via different techniques. However, with the passage of time, due to the need for further progress and improvement in MXene materials, ideas have turned toward composite fabrication, which has aided boosting the MXene composites regarding their properties and applications in various areas.
1. Introduction
MXene is a novel class of two-dimensional materials, which is generated by etching the Al layer of Ti
3AlC
2 MAX phase with HF solutions under gentle mode. MXene has achieved substantial consideration because of its superior hydrophilicity, physiochemical stability, electrical conductivity, and favorable environmental characteristics. It has been stated that, when MXene is employed as an assisting substrate, the properties of composites (containing electro-catalytic activity, phosphate removal, and peroxymonosulfate activation) enhance significantly. It was found that, in comparison with pure Co
3O
4, the sandwiched Co
3O
4/MXene composite exhibited superior catalytic activity for peroxymonosulfate activation to degenerate BPA, thus prompting that the use of MXene as a substrate can effectively increase the catalytic activity of active components. Therefore, it is anticipated that MXene could be used as a support of Fe
2CoTi
3O
10 for activation of peroxymonosulfate
[1]. The adsorption of albumin, which staved off re-aggregation of the few-layer nanoplates, resulted in stable colloidal solutions after delamination of manifolded MXenes into minute fine nanoplates. Monodisperse colloids were created using cascading centrifugation, which can be used to synthesize MXenes for biomedical purposes. Albumin coated MXenes may find uses in a variety of disciplines, involving medicine, biology, pharmaceuticals, and environmental engineering, where protein adsorption upon nanomaterial planes performs a remarkable function
[2].
2. Critical Overview
The electromagnetic properties are crucial for absorption measurement that transforms the electromagnetic wave into heat energy. Facile preparation of MXene and metal composite is required for the exploration of new family members of MXene. The targeted ternary composite nanomaterial could produce a more diverse interface, a larger surface area, and, most significantly, enhance electrical properties, which is critical for managing EMI shielding effectiveness through conduction and polarization loss. There was a substantial contribution in the damping of EM waves due to the competing impact among conducting impedance and surface and interfacial polarization by the oxide nanoparticles located on the MXene surface. Mechanical flexibility and metallic conductivity are the two important factors for energy storage devices. The fabrication of MXene@Zn composite has helped researchers to achieve desirable systems. Energy efficiency requirements in different industries have been overcome by utilizing lightweight and high-performance materials. Al incorporation into MXene can effectively produce materials with high strength, hardness and fracture toughness. Mechanical properties of materials are greatly dependent on dispersion of particles as the wettability has an important role in the dispersion of particles. Excellent wettability of materials improved mechanical properties. Researchers need to design novel three-component MXene heterostructure for multifunctional applications such as supercapacitors, catalytic performance, etc. (as shown in Table 1) The catalytic performance could improve through considering bimetallic nanoparticles. The synergistic effect between Rh/Ni and Pt/Pd nanoparticles accurately adopted surface electric state of nanoparticles. MXene can be used as supportive materials for dehydrogenation. MXene and metal-based anode material can overcome challenges related to batteries because of their large electrical conductivity and significant energy density. Combination of MXene with metal composites consisted excellent capacities with long cycle stability. Metals cause corrosion when exposed to a favorable oxygen-containing environment. The issue can be resolved by applying coating agents to prevent corrosion and explore MXene with other elements, which act as anticorrosive materials. Hard ceramic nanostructures together with soft metal can remarkably upgrade the properties, such as fatigue, strength and corrosion resistance.
Table 1. MXene–metal composites synthesis, properties and application.
MXene–Metal Composites |
Methods |
Properties |
Applications |
References |
Au/Ti3C2Tx |
chemical reduction |
microstructure |
electrochemical and catalytic performance |
[3] |
RhNi/MXene |
one-step wet chemical |
microstructure |
catalytic performance |
[4] |
Ti3C2/DNA/Pd/Pt |
In-situ process |
|
sensor and catalytic performance |
[5] |
Ti3C2Tx /Ni |
In-situ hydrothermal |
EMA |
electromagnetic wave absorption |
[6] |
Ti3C2Tx/Al |
pressureless sintering followed by hot extrusion |
microstructure and mechanical properties |
solid lubricant |
[7] |
Ti3C2@Au@CdS |
self reduction |
microstructure |
photocatalytic hydrogen production activity |
[8] |
FLM/Al composite |
self assembly protocol and powder metallurgy |
microstructure, mechanical properties |
automotive, aerospace, packaging industries |
[9] |
Ag-Ti3C2Tx and Ag-Nb2CTx |
self chemical reduction |
electromagnetic Interference |
EM wave shielding |
[10] |
Pd@MXene |
one-step soft solution processing |
microstructure, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy |
Sensors, catalysis, biomedical |
[11] |
Ti3C2TxMXene@Zn |
facile in situ electroplating |
flexibility, wettability, electronic conductivity |
energy storage system |
[12] |
Ti3C2Tx /Mg-Li |
liquid metal gelation |
mechanical properties |
alloys, batteries and supercapacitor |
[13] |
MXene/Cu |
high energy ball milling |
microstructure, mechanical |
automotive and aerospace industries |
[14] |
Ni-MXene/Cu composites |
high energy ball milling |
microstructure, mechanical and wettability |
automotive and aerospace industries |
[15] |
FeNi/Ti3C2Tx |
facile in situ hydrothermal |
microstructure, magnetic and microwave absorption |
Radar detection technology |
[16] |
Ag-Ti3C2Tx and Ag-Nb2CTx Composites |
simultaneous self-reduction and oxidation |
EMI shielding |
wireless technologies and radar systems |
[17] |
MXene/Ag |
direct reduction method |
|
lithium-ion batteries |
[18] |
Ti2C/Au-Ag |
machine learning |
|
electrochemical and SERS intelligent analysis |
[19] |
MOF-derived MnO2/Mn3O4 and Ti3C2 MXene/Au |
enzymatic inhibition |
|
electrochemical pesticides detection |
[20] |
MXene@Sb |
one-step electrodeposition approach |
flexible |
catalyst, batteries, sensors |
[21] |
Lac/Au/MXene/GCE |
reduction process |
|
Electrochemical detection of catechol |
[22] |
MXene-Ag0.9Ti0.1 |
self reduction |
|
electrocatalytic activity |
[23] |
MXene@AuNPs |
self reduction |
|
catalytic performance |
[24] |
Ni/MoO2@Mo2CTx |
wet impregnation method |
|
catalytic performance |
[25] |
MXene/MgAl-LDHs |
in situ synthesis |
|
anticorrosion |
[26] |
3. Summary
In this research, the researchers focused on composites of MXene and metal. Due to their prodigious physical and chemical properties, MXene-based metal composites have gained much attention. MXene/metal composites showed excellent results for synthesis preparation, showed properties such as microstructure, mechanical, thermal stability, and wettability, as well as boosted their wide range of applications in energy storage devices, catalytic activity, supercapacitors, and anti-corrosive and electrochemical performance. Synthesis of the bimetallic MXene complex via the one-step chemical approach has enabled the possible fabrication of other metals with MXene. MXene–metal composites have been demonstrated as efficient electromagnetic absorption materials that might be effective in the application of radar networks and wireless automations. The composite of MXene with aluminum showed excellent mechanical behavior and reduced frictional losses. The chemical stability investigation has led to the synthesis of composite at definite process states. This preliminary research suggests that MXene-reinforced MMCs with significantly better mechanical characteristics could be developed. It is normal to believe that improving MXene amount, size of particle, dispersion, and alloy composition will increase mechanical characteristics even further. Beyond excessive EMI shielding materials, the gained large conductivity and synthesis of ternary hybrid nanostructure offer promise for significances in energy storage, photocatalysis, and multifunctional importance. A bifunctional nanosensor has come up with the latest approach for food and agro-product safety. Furthermore, diabetes mellitus has been detected by using a suitable electrode as a GOx/Au/MXene/Nafion/GCE biosensor to determine the amount of glucose in biological specimens. The manufacturing of sensors based on MXene nanocomposite has unlocked its application in the biomedical field. Nanocomposite based on MXene could efficiently apprehend the disintegration of solar water. More efforts have been made on MXene@Metal composite to fabricate a dendrite-free, metal-based storage cell as well as potassium ion devices. Moreover, the manufacturing of functional nanocomposite extends MXene–metal composite for proceeding implementation in structural alloys as well as batteries and supercapacitors. MXene/Ag composite proved to be a promising electrode material for batteries as well as possess better electrocatalytic activity in alkaline fuel. The development of Ni/MoO2@Mo2CTx catalyst has overcome the issues of transportation and can be employed as fuel in cars. In addition, the detection of methamidophos utilizing composite materials has opened more opportunities in the field of electrochemical sensors for examining different environmental contaminants such as pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Besides, MXene also unbarred routes for its utilization as an anticorrosive agent.
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/coatings12040516