MXene as emerging nanofillers for high-performance polymer composites: A review

MXenes, transition metal carbide and nitrides with graphene-like structures, have received numerous attention since they were synthesized from MAX phases in 2011. As a rising star in 2D material family, MXenes exhibit charming physical and chemical properties. The superiority in 2D flak structure, combined with rich functional groups, endows MXenes abundant tunable performance and also makes them show unique advantages in various fields. Furthermore, the special structural and functional features also make MXenes and MXene-based materials easy to combine with polymer matrices to meet its high-performance requirements in electrical, thermal, mechanical and other fields. Now, a variety of synthetic methods of MXenes have been explored to suit different application, from hydrofluoric acid to fluorinate-containing acid solution and fluorinate-containing salts. Moreover, diverse modification methods were studied based on abundant terminations of MXene, which are also reviewed. In addition, the fabrication method and performances of MXene/polymer composites are also invested to explore the influence of MXenes on the properties of composite materials. Subsequently, the applications of MXene-based polymeric composites with different properties were also reviewed to explore their application prospects. Lastly, based on current development situation of MXenes, the challenges and prospects for the development of MXene/polymer composites are discussed. In view of the splendid performance of MXenes, obviously, it is certain that MXenes would play a vital role in polymer composites and bring considerable prospects for the development of high-performance composite materials.