Synthesis of MXenes

Abstract

A novel two-dimensional (2D) multilayered material Ti3C2 Tx MXene has been synthesized for the first time in 2011 using hydrofluoric acid (HF) as an etchant. Since the discovery of Ti3C2Tx, a variety of novel synthetic routes using different etching agents and intercalants have been developed for the fabrication of myriad new MXenes. Endowed with hydrophilic nature, easy large-scale synthesis in water, and low capacitance in turn high electrical conductivity, MXenes have shown a bright aspect for applications ranging from electrocatalysis, to energy storage, to electromagnetic shielding. Bulk of the MXenes have been synthesized by top-down approach including etching and exfoliation of parental layered compounds. The etching methods including HF as an etchants, in situ HF forming methods, molten salt method, alkali etching methods, and electrochemical methods were discussed in detail. In addition to this, few of the bottom-up approaches, namely chemical vapor deposition and plasma-enhanced pulsed laser deposition methods, have also gained substantial interest for synthesis of MXenes, which were also explained herein. Thus, in the present book chapter, development of various synthetic protocols along with reaction conditions over a certain time scale has been well summarized. © 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.